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LOGAN — Overnight rains could add to swollen rivers and expedite snow melt leading to flooding Monday morning and afternoon, experts say, though it's not likely to be severe.
As of Sunday evening, there hadn't been any serious flooding in Northern Utah, including the Salt Lake Valley, but Brian McInerney, hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Salt Lake, said that was bound to change overnight.
"It's been minor flooding to this point," McInerney said. "But the problem is we have a rain event coming tonight into tomorrow."
The expected two inches of rain in the mountains and one inch of rain in the valley in the northern Wasatch area were expected to threaten rivers already full to the banks. The Blacksmith Fork had flooded in some areas in Cache Valley, but not significantly. There was ankle-deep standing water in the Riverside RV Park in Logan and basement sump pumps were working hard in the Country Manor subdivision.
"So far the water is staying in its channel through that subdivision," said Craig Humphreys, fire marshal for Logan City Fire Department.
I feel like we're as ready as we can be. It's just kind of up to mother nature -- if the rain would stop and the snow would melt slowly. But I think we're ready -- very well prepared for this.
–Teresa Harris
Even so, city officials want to be prepared.
"I feel like we're as ready as we can be," said Teresa Harris, spokeswoman for Logan's mayor. "It's just kind of up to mother nature -- if the rain would stop and the snow would melt slowly. But I think we're ready -- very well prepared for this."
In addition to the Blacksmith Fork river near Logan, Chalk Creek, the Weber River and parts of Emigration Creek and many small streams throughout the northern Wasatch Front were being watched closely by officials. A flood watch was issued by the National Weather Service for Cache Valley, Salt Lake and Tooele Valleys and the Western Uinta Mountains extending through Monday evening.
"Through the night time hours Sunday night, we anticipate many of these (waterways) to just exceed flood stage minimally," McInerney said. "Tomorrow, with the extent of rain moving through the system hydrologically, we anticipate additional flooding in a widespread area, still on the low end of flooding."
McInerney said some homes closest to overflowing rivers were likely to be hit hard.
"It won't be minor. It will be very problematic," he said.
By Wednesday, a cold front is expected to move in that will put a pause on flooding, at least for a few days until the temperatures heat up at the end of the week.
"On Wednesday we have a cold front move into the area, which will shut down the melt," he said. "We'll shut down the melt, we'll ease the rainfall, and streams and rivers will go back briefly.
After that, warm temperatures are expected and record snow pack levels, which are 200 percent of normal in some areas, will melt rapidly.
"These rivers are going to rage throughout northern Utah and the Uintas," he said.
McInerney reiterated a sentiment shared by state officials and meteorologists alike in the current flooding climate.
"Every year when we have big river flow during the spring, we have people die in the rivers," he said. "People use poor judgment. They don't estimate how fast and how cold these things are moving, and every year little kids die in these rivers. If you can monitor your children closely and use good judgment when you're around these waters, we'll all be better off."
We will continue to follow the conditions of the weather and the water levels. For in depth coverage of current water levels near your area, go to Live 5 Weather: River Flow Tracker.
Contributing: John Hollenhorst
Email:mfarmer@ksl.com
