Southern Utah, Zion National Park face further flash flood warnings

Southern Utah, Zion National Park face further flash flood warnings

(Zion National Park)


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ZION NATIONAL PARK — Southern Utah, including Zion National Park, is facing further flash flood warnings as showers and thunderstorms develop across the southern and central areas of the state.

The National Weather Service updated its southern Utah flash flood rating from “possible” to “probable” Monday afternoon as rain clouds rolled in from the north. Hikers, national park visitors and those exploring slot canyons should be cautious, the weather service urged in a tweet.

The National Weather service also issued a flash flood warning for headwaters of Johnson, Deep Creek and smaller washes south of Bryce Canyon National Park through 8:15 p.m. The warning also includes Alton.

Kanab is also under a flash flood warning for Kanab Creek which drains down to the city. The warning lasts through 6:30 p.m.

There may also be some flash flooding in slot canyons in Zion National Park with potential for storms after 2 p.m., according to a tweet from the park.

Powerful thunderstorms created flooding and mudslides in several areas of southern Utah last week, and Zion National Park recently experienced flash floods and rock slides that closed several trails and trapped visitors.

Some popular trails, including Angels Landing, Kayenta, Upper Emerald Pools and West Rim from the Grotto to Cabin Spring, remain closed, according to a Facebook post from Zion National Park.

There is major damage on the West Rim Trail in the Refrigerator Canyon area, according to the Facebook post. Part of the retaining wall on the trail collapsed, leaving an 18-foot gap in the trail that is 5 feet deep. The trail is still closed between Cabin Spring and the Grotto, which includes Angels Landing. There is no estimate as to when the trail will reopen.

Much of the Emerald Pools Trail area is also closed due to major damage. A 20-foot by 10-foot boulder that was supporting part of the trail fell and left a deep void in the trail just past the alcove at the end of Lower Emerald Pool Trail. Two large retaining walls also collapsed. The trails will remain closed until repairs are complete.

Large boulders crushed about 50 feet of the Kayenta Trail which will also remain closed until repairs are complete.

Riverside Walk was covered in sand, debris and small rockfalls during the flooding but was cleared Wednesday and Thursday, and shuttles have resumed their normal route. Feet-deep mud and debris on the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway trapped vehicles in a tunnel, but crews finished clearing out the road Wednesday night.

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