Southern Utah emergency managers prepare for flash flooding
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah () — Emergency officials are warning of possible flash flooding this week in southern Utah, including areas like Zion National Park, Snow Canyon, Red Cliffs and Grand Staircase.
With storms slowly building across the region, Jason Bradley with Washington County Emergency Management Operations says many of southern Utah's most popular outdoor destinations could quickly become dangerous.
'Any of our low lying slot canyons and dry wash areas can be problematic for us,' Bradley said.
The danger isn't always going to be obvious — floodwaters can surge into canyons from storms miles away, even when skies overhead are clear. And even the most experienced hikers and researchers aren't immune to the risks.
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'We've had a death in the last year or two from somebody that was actually studying hydrology, and they were killed by a flash flood, they didn't heed the warnings,' Bradley added.
Washington County emergency teams say they're ready to respond if need, but they would much rather have visitors make safe choices and stay out of danger. And when it comes to floodwaters, the outcome can be tragic.
'A lot of time when it comes to flood waters and flash floods, it's not a rescue, it's a recovery,' Bradley said. 'So it's really important that you pay attention ahead of time and not be there and avoid flood waters.'
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