2015 Utah floods: Difference between revisions

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Hurricane Linda (2015)#United States

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+#REDIRECT [[Hurricane Linda (2015)#United States]]
-{{Infobox flood
-| image location   = September 14, 2015 Cedar City, Utah radar.jpg
-| image name       = [[NEXRAD]] image at 20:20&nbsp;UTC (2:20&nbsp;p.m. MDT) on September&nbsp;14, depicting a thunderstorm over [[Hildale, Utah]] that produced deadly flash floods
-| name             = 2015 Utah floods
-| duration         = September 14, 2015
-| areas affected   = Southern [[Utah]], northern [[Arizona]]
-| total fatalities = 20 confirmed
-| total damages    =
-}}
-On September&nbsp;14, 2015, two [[flash flood]] incidents occurred in southern [[Utah]]. Twenty people were confirmed dead, with one still missing as of September 18. The event ranks as the deadliest flood disaster on record in Utah.<ref name="WUSep15">{{cite web|author=Bob Henson|publisher=Weather Underground|date=September 15, 2015|accessdate=September 16, 2015|title=Linda’s Moisture Contributes to Heavy Rain, Deadly Flooding in Southwest|url=http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=3113}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Michael Martinez, Cheri Mossburg, and Holly Yan|publisher=CNN|date=September 16, 2015|accessdate=September 16, 2015|title=Floods in Utah kill 16, leave four missing|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/15/us/utah-arizona-flooding/index.html}}</ref><ref name="USA Today">{{cite web|last1=Jenkins|first1=Kevin|title=2 now missing after deadly Utah floods kill 18|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/09/16/flash-flood-utah/32489017/|website=USA Today|publisher=USA Today|accessdate=16 September 2015}}</ref>
-==Background==
-On September&nbsp;6, 2015, a tropical depression formed off the western coast of Mexico over the Pacific Ocean.<ref>{{cite report|author=Eric S. Blake|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=September 6, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=Tropical Depression Fifteen-E Discussion Number 1|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2015/ep15/ep152015.discus.001.shtml|location=Miami, Florida}}</ref> This system, soon named [[Hurricane Linda (2015)|Linda]], eventually became a [[SSHS#Category 3|Category&nbsp;3 hurricane]] on September&nbsp;8.<ref>{{cite report|author=Michael J. Brennan|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=September 8, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=Hurricane Linda Advisory Number 11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2015/ep15/ep152015.public.011.shtml|location=Miami, Florida}}</ref> After degenerating into a remnant low on September&nbsp;10,<ref>{{cite report|author=Michael J. Brennan|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=September 10, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=Post-Tropical Cyclone Linda Advisory Number 20|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2015/ep15/ep152015.public.020.shtml|location=Miami, Florida}}</ref> moisture associated with the former [[tropical cyclone]] spread across the [[Southwestern United States]]. Aided by above-average [[water vapor]] levels, a seasonally strong [[Cold-core low|upper-level trough]] produced scattered thunderstorms across the region on September&nbsp;14.<ref name="WUSep15"/> Two incidents of [[flash flood]]ing resulted in 20&nbsp;deaths in Utah,<ref name="SLT1"/> the deadliest flash flood event in the state's history.<ref name="WUSep15"/> The previous deadliest event was on August&nbsp;13, 1923, when seven people died near [[Farmington, Utah|Farmington]].<ref name="TWC"/>
-Flash floods occur annually in [[Washington County, Utah]], with an average of one to two flash flood days per year since 1950.<ref name="TWC"/>
-==Hildale event==
-The first incident occurred near the town of [[Hildale, Utah|Hildale]] in [[Washington County, Utah|Washington County]] when two successive thunderstorms produced more than {{convert|2|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain;<ref name="WUSep15"/> this qualified as a [[return period|1-in-100 year event]].<ref name="WashPost"/> The [[National Weather Service]] issued a strongly worded [[flash flood warning]] at 20:22&nbsp;UTC (2:22&nbsp;p.m. [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]) for the area,<ref name="WUSep15"/> stating "Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life".<ref name="WashPost">{{cite web|author=Angela Fritz|publisher=''[[The Washington Post]]''|date=September 16, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=Horrific Utah flood is likely the deadliest U.S. weather event so far in 2015|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/09/16/horrific-utah-flooding-was-likely-the-deadliest-weather-event-of-2015/}}</ref> The first storm resulted in a {{convert|3.42|ft|m|abbr=on}} rise along the [[Short Creek (Utah)|Short Creek]], as measured by a [[stream gauge]] in [[Colorado City, Arizona]], in 19&nbsp;minutes around 21:18&nbsp;UTC (3:18&nbsp;p.m. MDT),<ref name="TWC"/><ref name="WashPost"/> with residents gathering nearby to observe.<ref name="WashPost"/> Between 22:48 and 23:05&nbsp;UTC (4:48 and 5:05&nbsp;p.m. MDT), a second surge of water swept down the creek with the Colorado City gauge reporting a rise of {{convert|5.36|ft|m|abbr=on}};<ref name="TWC"/> the gauge stopped reporting at 23:47&nbsp;UTC (5:47&nbsp;p.m. MDT). The second flood swept away two vehicles carrying a collective 16&nbsp;people while they were observing the rising waters.<ref name="WashPost"/> Twelve people were killed, three children were rescued, and one remains missing as of September&nbsp;16.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[KTSU]]|date=September 16, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=12 found dead, 1 boy missing as crews clean up flood-ravaged Hildale|url=http://fox13now.com/2015/09/15/12-victims-recovered-cleanup-begins-in-flood-ravaged-hildale/|location=Hildale, Utah}}</ref> Six bodies were recovered in Utah and two in Arizona, {{convert|2.5|mi|km|abbr=on}} downstream.<ref name="TWC"/>
-Alongside the fatalities, the floods left several blocks of the town without power.<ref name="Fox1">{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=September 16, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=At least 18 killed as flash floods strike Utah|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/09/16/utah-flash-floods-kill-six-people-seven-others-missing/}}</ref>
-Around 150&nbsp;federal personnel and 500&nbsp;community volunteers conducted search and rescue in the immediate aftermath.<ref name="TWC"/> Twenty-four members of [[Urban Search and Rescue Utah Task Force 1|Utah Task Force One]] and twenty-six personnel from the [[Utah National Guard]] were dispatched to Hildale to assist in search and rescue along Short Creek. Dangerous conditions along the creek slowed the operation.<ref>{{cite web|author=Zach Whitney|publisher=KTSU|date=September 17, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=National Guard, Utah Task Force One join search for missing child after deadly flash flood in Hildale|url=http://fox13now.com/2015/09/16/national-guard-utah-task-force-one-join-search-for-missing-child-after-deadly-flash-flood-in-hildale/|location=Hildale, Utah}}</ref> By September&nbsp;17, 300&nbsp;personnel were searching for a 6-year-old boy who was still missing.<ref name="NBC917"/>
-==Zion National Park event==
-The second incident occurred in [[Keyhole Canyon]] at [[Zion National Park]] after {{convert|0.63|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain fell between 22:30 and 23:30&nbsp;UTC (4:30 and 5:30&nbsp;p.m. MDT).<ref name="Zion1">{{cite web|publisher=KTSU|date=September 16, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=Crews search for 1 missing in Zion National Park after flash flood, 6 found dead|url=http://fox13now.com/2015/09/15/2-dead-5-missing-in-zion-national-park-after-caught-in-flash-flooding/|location=[[Zion National Park]]}}</ref> For the two day period ending September&nbsp;14, the park saw {{convert|1.89|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain.<ref name="TWC">{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|publisher=The Weather Channel|date=September 17, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=Authorities Search for 2 Missing in Southern Utah Floods; 18 Killed|url=http://www.weather.com/news/news/utah-flash-floods}}</ref> The earlier flash flood warning prompted officials at the park to close all canyons by 21:30&nbsp;UTC (3:30&nbsp;p.m. MDT). A group of seven [[canyoning|canyoneers]] entered [[Keyhole Canyon]] between 21:30 and 22:30&nbsp;UTC (3:30 and 4:30&nbsp;p.m. MDT).<ref name="LAT1">{{cite web|author=Matt Pearce and Joseph Serna|publisher=''Los Angeles Times''|date=September 18, 2015|accessdate=September 18, 2015|title=Bodies of 6 Southern California canyon explorers found miles apart after Zion park flash flood |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-victims-zion-national-park-californians-20150918-story.html}}</ref> Flow along the [[Virgin River]] dramatically increased following the rains, with the river's North Fork experiencing a rise from 55&nbsp;ft<sup>3</sup> (1.5&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup>) per second to 2,630&nbsp;ft<sup>3</sup> (74.5&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup>) per second in just 15&nbsp;minutes.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=National Park Service|date=September 16, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=Four Fatalities Confirmed in Zion National Park, Three Still Missing|url=http://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/four-fatalities-confirmed.htm}}</ref> All seven people were swept away by the ensuing flood and died.<ref name="NBC917">{{cite web|author=Tim Stelloh|publisher=NBC News|date=September 17, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=After Devastating Utah Floods, Final Body Found in Zion National Park|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/after-devastating-utah-floods-final-body-found-zion-natl-park-n429411}}</ref> This was the deadliest weather-related disaster at a national park since 11 people died in a flash flood in [[Antelope Canyon]] in 1997.<ref name="TWC"/>
-Rescue operations were launched that evening; however, dangerous conditions in the canyons resulted in the search being held off until the following day. The bodies of the canyoneers were discovered miles apart along Clear Creek and [[Pine Creek (Utah)|Pine Creek]].<ref name="LAT1"/>
-==Elsewhere==
-A man from [[Hurricane, Utah]], {{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on}} west of Hildale, died on September&nbsp;14 after being swept away by floods while traveling remote dirt roads.<ref>{{cite web|author=Laura Wagner|publisher=[[NPR|National Public Radio]]|date=September 17, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=Authorities Search For Another Possible Victim In Utah Flash Floods|url=http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/09/17/441284651/authorities-search-for-another-possible-victim-in-utah-flash-floods}}</ref> His vehicle was discovered in [[Mohave County, Arizona]] on September&nbsp;17 about {{convert|7|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of the Arizona–Utah border and his body was found a further {{convert|6|mi|km|abbr=on}} away the following day.<ref name="SLT1">{{cite web|author=Nate Carlisle|publisher=''The Salt Lake Tribune''|date=September 18, 2015|accessdate=September 18, 2015|title= Hurricane man’s body found, brings southern Utah flood death toll to 20 and counting|url=http://www.sltrib.com/news/2965358-155/hurricane-mans-body-found-brings-southern}}</ref> In [[Utah County, Utah|Utah County]], the rain resulted in traffic accidents and mudslides, including several at [[American Fork Canyon]] that shut down parts of [[Utah State Route 92|State Route 92]] and [[Utah State Route 144|State Route 144]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=''Daily Herald''|date=September 15, 2015|accessdate=September 17, 2015|title=Heavy rain brings mudslides, accidents to Utah County|url=http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/heavy-rain-brings-mudslides-accidents-to-utah-county/article_effbbc18-d0e7-5fe5-a2ac-9c27363b0704.html}}</ref>
-==References==
-{{Reflist|2}}
-[[Category:2015 natural disasters in the United States]]
-[[Category:2015 floods]]
-[[Category:2015 in Utah]]
-[[Category:Environment of Utah]]
-[[Category:Floods in the United States]]
-[[Category:Natural disasters in Utah]]
-[[Category:Zion National Park]]
-[[Category:Washington County, Utah]]
-[[Category:Utah County, Utah]]