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Flash Flooding Expected at Southern Utah Parks as Priscilla’s Remnants Soak Region

A higher risk rating for Friday has triggered warnings to stay out of slot canyons.

Overview

  • Deep tropical moisture from Hurricane Priscilla’s remnants is driving heavy rain into southern Utah, with flood watches posted across central, southern and eastern parts of the state through Saturday.
  • The National Weather Service raised Friday’s flash-flood potential to expected for Glen Canyon, Grand Staircase-Escalante East and West, Snow Canyon/Red Cliffs and Zion National Park.
  • Emergency managers urged visitors to change plans and avoid slot canyons and dry washes, stressing standard guidance such as "Turn around, don't drown."
  • Counties forecast 1 to 3 inches of rain and warned that backcountry routes could become impassable, including Cottonwood, Skutumpah and Hole-in-the-Rock roads as well as Notom-Bullfrog Road and the Burr Trail.
  • At Zion, a brief downpour Thursday produced a temporary flood warning, a roughly 42% rise on the Virgin River and a rockfall at Weeping Rock that paused shuttle service before conditions began to recede.