Monsoonal thunderstorms with heavy rain over the last few day have been creating some flooding issues and more thunderstorms are likely today. A Flash Flood Watch continues for South Utah and most of West Colorado. Storms are likely to be isolated, but locally heavy. Rainfall totals can add up quickly.
A flash flood watch has been issued for central/southern Utah today. Slot canyons, burn scars, & low water crossings most vulnerable. #utwx pic.twitter.com/pOmYP4LuVi
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) July 20, 2017
Heavy rainfall, especially over already saturated soils from recent rains on Wednesday, could lead to flash flooding in canyon country, including those dangerous slot canyons, burn scars, and on normally low flow, dry washes, low river crossings, dry streams and creeks. Water can rise quickly downstream of heavy rain, even when the parent thunderstorm is miles away. Rock and mud slides, along with high water flowing across roads, could impact travel.
Very heavy rain falling in Grand Junction. Please send us any reports of flooding! #cowx #grandjunction #flooding pic.twitter.com/g0NKBx3G9w
— NWS Grand Junction (@NWSGJT) July 20, 2017
Deep monsoonal moisture is still in place over the region with an area of high pressure centered to the west over the Southern Plains. As temperatures heat up, afternoon instability will initiate
showers and thunderstorms. Several subtle disturbances moving across the region and weak, leftover boundaries from yesterday’s storms will aid in storm development.
For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Mace Michaels