Cars sit in bumper-deep water near Smiths Ballpark in Salt Lake City. Photo credit: Shara Park, KSL 5
SALT LAKE CITY — As many as 100 homes and vehicles may have been damaged by unexpected early morning flooding, the Salt Lake City Fire Department says.
The worst-hit area appears to be near 200 West and 1100 South, near Smiths Ballpark. The ramp from I-15 to 900 South is closed, which is forcing drivers on the freeway to seek alternate routes into downtown. As a result, there are extensive freeway delays compounded by the closure.
Police block intersections in an attempt to prevent drivers from getting stranded. Photo credit: Mary Richards
Crews also closed 3300 South at I-15 and State Street in Draper because of early morning flooding, but those streets have since reopened.
KSL Meteorologist Dan Guthrie says some areas got upwards of an inch of rain in just an hour. For comparison, the average monthly rainfall for July in Salt Lake City is .72 inches.
The Salt Lake City School District released a statement confirming there was flooding affecting at least four area schools. Fortunately, no students had events in those buildings today.
Contributing: Mary Richards and Shara Park
