Water flows through a swollen Weber River, near the Ogden Kayak Park, in Ogden on Monday, April 17, 2023. Recent warmer temperatures have increased concerns about potential flooding for Utah. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY– A big weather warmup is expected this weekend, and Utah water watchers are preparing for it.
The Utah warmup shows high temperatures in the 70s on Thursday and Saturday before climbing into the 80s Sunday through Tuesday. And that stretch of 80-degree days could last longer.
On Thursday morning, KSL Meteorologist Matt Johnson told Utah’s Morning News that it’s a little concerning to see that many days with consecutive 80-degree weather.
Johnson recently said 90% of the snowpack is still in the mountains thanks to the persistent cool weather along the Wasatch Front.
A lot of the snow is at upper elevations, which doesn’t normally start melting until temperatures approach 80 degrees in the valleys.
“We’ve really been able to keep that moisture locked into the high elevation snowpack so far, but we think that will begin to change with this warmup,” said National Weather Service Meteorologist Alex DeSmet.
Officials are already preparing for potential flooding. On Thursday morning, UDOT was expected to close American Fork Canyon while they clear debris from around the American Fork River.
DeSmet said water-watchers will keep a close eye on creeks coming out of canyons, as well as other waterways like the Weber River.