The danger of more flooding in Utah is far from over, but there’s nothing particularly alarming in the weather forecast for the weekend and into early next week.
Meteorologists and elected officials are warning that the state is in for more flooding as the state’s record snowpack melts. Gov. Spencer Cox said, “We’re certain that these flood conditions will continue in the coming months.”
In the short term, however, temperatures were in the low 50s on Friday, about 10 degrees below normal, according to the National Weather Service. Highs will be in the low 60s on Saturday, pretty much normal for this time of year.
And the warming trend will continue on Sunday, when temperatures should reach the low 70s.
People work to protect homes into the night along 1700 South in Salt Lake City from the rising flow of Emigration Creek through Wasatch Hollow Park on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. As rapid snowmelt and possible April showers stoke fears of heavy flooding in the Northern Plains, state officials are announcing flood response plans, and residents are assembling thousands — if not hundreds of thousands — of sandbags to combat floods themselves. (Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
“The current cooler weather has helped to slow snowmelt,” according to the weather service, “but the warming will bring back some potential for flooding concerns by early next week.”
However, “overall the warming should not be as much” as what Utah experienced earlier this week — temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s, including a record high of 83 on Tuesday.
Emigration Creek fell below flood stage on Thursday, and it’s expected to remain there at least through the beginning of next week, according to the National Weather Service. The flow of water out of Wasatch Hollow and down streets in the area of 1700 East and 1700 South has slowed considerably.
The creek peaked at about 155 cubic feet per second on Wednesday night — flood stage is 130 cfs — and a peak of about 110 cfs is expected on Monday.
Temperatures are expected to be in the low 70s on Monday, but they won’t stay there for long. A cold front is expected to move into the state, dropping temperatures to the mid-50s on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The forecast calls for rain in the valleys and rain and snow in the mountains Monday night into Tuesday morning, but not a lot of precipitation is expected. There’s also a slight chance of precipitation on Wednesday and Thursday.
Heading into the weekend, several areas of the state are dealing with flooding. In Ogden, Fort Buenaventura Park closed after the Weber River overflowed its banks in that area. And communities in Salt Lake City, Parley’s Canyon, Millcreek, Kearns and Kaysville continue to monitor potential flooding.
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