Warmer temperatures this coming week are good news for those tired of the wet spring, but could be bad news for Utah’s rivers and streams.
The accumulation of snow at low elevations during the month of May is considerable enough, according to National Weather Service Hydrologist Brian McInerney, to produce short duration minor flooding in localized areas as temperatures warm up.
There are still significant amounts of snow in the mountains around Cache Valley. According to a photo shared by the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest on Twitter, there are 42 inches of snow on the ground at 8200 feet in the Tony Grove area.
#uwcnf Logan RD Photos Tony Grove road taken 5/30. Wheeled vehicles have been able to get past cattle guard and almost to back country trailhead turnoff. Snow is still pretty significant with 42” still on ground at 8200’. Thank you Matt Pluta and family for sharing your photos pic.twitter.com/8NGSO6qWGm
— Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF (@UWCNF) May 30, 2019
Current trends suggest a number of rivers have the potential to swell each day for the first two weeks of June.
“Anything like the Logan, Weber, Provo, American Fork, Big and Little Cottonwood, anything off the Uintas,” said McInerney in a weekly video release, “all of these waterways are going to be incredibly dangerous.”
Those enjoying the mountains in the coming weeks need to be aware of high water levels in rivers.
“Keep your kids away, use incredibly prudent judgement when you go out,” stressed McInerney. “The water is so cold that it will take your breath away. It’s moving so fast and so swift that if you fall in, you’ll get swept away quite quickly.”
The cold, wet spring has produced additional good news. Utah is currently drought free, McInerney said.