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ROOSEVELT — Widespread rain in eastern and southern Utah has led to rising waterways and creating flooding throughout the area.
“(The rain) picked up almost all the rivers and waterways in slot canyons and dry washes to flood,” said Brian McInerney, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
McInerney said the Virgin River jumped from around 90 cubic feet per second (CFS) rate of flow to 3,000 CFS, the Escalante River rose to 1,000 CFS and Paria River also jumped to more than 1,000 CFS.
“Every waterway is in flood right now,” he added. “The rain continues throughout eastern Utah all the way up through Duchesne. Every one of these waterways up to Duchesne is in flood.”
The NWS issued a wide-ranging flood warning Thursday morning, which has since been extended to 10:15 p.m.
Flood Warning extended in area, time, till 1015PM. Heavy rainfall expected thru evening, avoid all waterways, use caution! #utwx#utfloodpic.twitter.com/d91eJXmu53
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) September 22, 2016
In Roosevelt, area emergency officials said members of the community began getting sandbags down since 6 a.m. to help prevent flooding. The NWS said that Roosevelt had received 3.13 inches of rain as of Thursday night.
"We're seeing an amazing response from the community from those out here helping taking care of the floods and taking care of the water," said Roosevelt resident Juliann Richens. "We have different businesses lending their equipment and their support. They are pumping water out of yards, out of ditches and out of homes. It's been an amazing thing to see."
Richens said everyone in the community was OK, but there were concerns for the homes.
NWS said Sunnyside, which is about 55 miles southwest of Roosevelt in Carbon County, had received 4.26 inches of rain from Wednesday night to Thursday night. That is more than half of its yearly rainfall average.
Carbon County dispatch said flooding on state Route 6 had cleared up near Price and Sunnyside as of noon, but rain was expected the rest of the day.
Carbon County Emergency Management officials said anyone in the county with damage should call 435-472-4357 to report it. All reported damage will be calculated to help with any federal assistance if it surpasses the state damage threshold, officials said.
Heavy rain is impacting the monument. Unpaved roads are impassable. pic.twitter.com/UrNjWXDxNK
— Dinosaur Nat'l Mon't (@DinosaurNPS) September 22, 2016
McInerney said areas above 8,000 feet elevation are likely to see snow Thursday night as temperatures cool, which is problematic as anybody in the backcountry has “a high probability of being stuck.”
Late September and the beginning of fall is around the time emergency officials get alerted of hunters, hikers and all sorts of people getting stuck in the backcountry, McInerney said.
“It’s quite dangerous with the cold temperatures that we’ve got coming,” he said.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
