Winter storm brings flooding, heavy snow to parts of Utah

ST. GEORGE, Utah — A new winter storm brought heavy rain to low-lying areas and snow to the mountains of Utah Monday. Rain forced the closure of several small bridges in southern areas, and one man was presumed drowned.

The Washington County Sheriff's Department said 50 to 100 people in the St. George area have either been evacuated or seen their back yards submerged in water. The Virgin River was swelling close to its banks, officials said.

A man was presumed dead after he was swept off the top of his vehicle in rushing water, Washington County officials said.

The man, whose name was not released, was in the Red Cliff Recreation area near Quail Creek Reservoir when the SUV carrying him and a female passenger became stuck in a torrent. The man got out of the vehicle, stood atop the hood and was swept away. The female passenger was rescued safely, but the search for the man was continuing.

Gov. John Huntsman, who plans to be in the area for an economic development summit, will visit areas affected by flooding on Wednesday.

In far northern Arizona, at least one house and a golf course were deluged Sunday. No one was injured, but residents from at least three other homes in the area left as a precaution.

And an avalanche warning was posted for all of the state's mountain ranges.

The Forest Service issued an avalanche warning for all of Utah's mountain ranges, saying snow and extremely high winds had created high danger.