Over an inch of rain hits Wasatch Front; flood warning issued along Jordan River

SALT LAKE CITY — Sunday made it to the record books as the fourth wettest day in June ever, according to the local office of the National Weather Service. Parts of the Salt Lake Valley and other areas along the Wasatch Front received over an inch of rain since midnight Sunday. 

The increase in rain water prompted various temporary flood warnings throughout the valley, including where the Little Cottonwood Creek meets the Jordan River.

As of 2 p.m. Sunday, Taylorsville had the most rain water collected, at 1.24 inches of rain. In Magna, 1.15 inches had fallen and just over an inch was reported at the Salt Lake International Airport. Areas of the Bountiful benches were soaked with 1.02 inches of rain. And the base of Alta ski resort has had 1.29 inches of precipitation.

Heavy, isolated thunderstorms, following a cold front have been augmented by lake effect storms, leading to the near-record downpours, NWS meteorologist Nanette Hosenfeld said.

Officials issued a warning, saying the storms "will cause areas of ponding on roadways and minor flooding of small streams."

"A lot of times the storm drains and streams get overwhelmed," by such sudden heavy downpours, Hosenfeld said.

Other previously issued flood warnings remain in effect for Cache, Davis and Weber and five central Utah counties. Flooding continues along the lower Weber River where levees have failed, which is expected to continue for the next several days.

The Logan River near Logan was reported slightly above flood stage Sunday at 2 p.m., according to the NWS. The river is expected to remain at or above flood stage at least through Friday, and flooding may affect summer homes along the river, as well as homes near Highway 89 and 91 near the Blacksmith Fork, the NWS warning says.

Temperatures are expected to rise by Thursday, to 87 in Logan and to 89 degrees in Salt Lake City.

"It's almost a race between getting the high temperatures or running out of snow," the Utah Division of Emergency Management posted online Sunday.

The river is running so high in Logan that Mayor Randy Watts issued a local emergency declaration and evacuation order Wednesday restricing access to the river or its banks by anyone except emergency personnel.

At Murray City Park, the parking lot near the swimming pool is beginning to flood, according to a Murray Police dispatchers, and there has been an unconfirmed report that the pathway along the Jordan River is under water in the area of 4500 South.

The Sevier River in central Utah remains above flood stage, which will continue at least through Monday morning, according to the NWS flood warning. Low-lying bridges, structures and roads near the river are affected. 

The National Weather Service warns that most flood deaths happen when motorists attempt to cross flooded roads. Just a foot of fast-moving water can sweep a car downstream. 

— Ladd Brubaker