In Salt Lake City, Sugar House Park remains closed to vehicles.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Parleys Creek flows through Sugar House Park, designed as a watershed and remains closed due to continued high water fluctuations on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
Editor’s Notes • The Salt Lake Tribune is providing free access to this important flood story. Registration for Our Top Stories newsletter, delivered to your inbox every morning. To support journalism like this, please donation or become a subscriber.
Although temperatures began to cool on Thursday and snowmelt slowed, the state’s waterways “will continue to have high flows” through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
High temperatures in the mid-70s are expected Thursday in the Salt Lake City area after a string of days stretching into the 80s. Mid-60s highs are expected from Friday through Sunday and lows through the mid-70s Monday through Wednesday.
Rain is likely on Thursday, with a “marginal risk” of severe thunderstorms. And there is at least a slight chance of rain and thunderstorms along the Wasatch Front daily through Wednesday.
Continue searching for the woman who was swept away by the water
Authorities continued to search for the body of a woman who fell into the raging Weber River near Uintah on Monday and was washed away.
According to her family, Libby Stimpson, 28, was walking her dog when she fell into the water. Laura Trumbo, her sister, said: “She loves those dogs. “Basically, they are her children.”
The dogs returned home wet but unharmed, but searchers had found no sign of Stimpson until Thursday morning.
ONE GoFundMe page to help “make her funeral arrangements and burial for her when she finally recovers” was established for Stimpson’s family. It raised more than $15,000 as of Thursday afternoon.
Bear River floods kill cattle in Rich County
Ranchers in remote Rich County have been devastated by flooding along the Bear River, causing thousands of dollars in damage and killing livestock in recent weeks.
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food estimates that 20 to 30 farms along the river have been affected by the flooding, according to a press release from department. The ministry also said a number of livestock had been lost to the floods, though the total has not been determined.
UDAF commissioner Craig Buttars said in a press release: “After years of difficult drought and an extremely difficult winter, these ranchers are now experiencing some of the worst flooding. seen in Rich County.
Total flood damage is expected to top $25,000 per farm, and floodwaters have prompted residents to evacuate livestock from farms. The cost of moving livestock out of flooded fields is estimated to be between $2,500 and $5,000.
UDAF is working to help ranchers in the meantime and provide assistance to those severely impacted by the floods, according to the press release. The Utah Department of Emergency Management is also working to address flooding in the county.
Emigration Creek’s Flow Slows Down
Emigration Creek, which peaked at about 150 cubic feet per second between Wednesday night and Thursday morning — 20 cfs above flood levels — is expected to remain below flood levels through the weekend, according to the Weather Service. national time.
Sugar House Park, which serves as a floodplain, will remain closed to vehicles through at least May 14.
Ogden River flooding
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A group of kayakers navigate the high currents of the River Ogden on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
Near Huntsville, there is a “moderate” risk of flooding along the southern fork of the River Ogden through the end of next week.
According to the weather agency, the river will peak at 5.3 feet on Friday morning – 0.7 feet above flood level – and then remain at flood level for the rest of next week.
Hyrum Dam continues to follow
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation continues to monitor the spillway at the Hyrum Dam — on the Little Bear River, about 9 miles southwest of Logan — around the clock as operators release “large amounts of water” to help manage the level. water of the Hyrum Reservoir.
Officials said the warm temperatures “significantly increased the amount of snowmelt and water entering the reservoir”.
The office stood ready to take “immediate action” if necessary at the dam built in 1935.
southern Utah floods
There is also a “moderate” risk of flooding along the Sevier River near Hatch through Friday night, according to the weather service.
After peaking at nearly 4.3 feet on Thursday morning – 0.6 feet above flood level – the river is expected to remain near flood level through Friday night.
– This is an evolving story. Check back for updates.