Flash Flood — Kane, Utah

2023-05-20 · near Adairville, Kane, Utah

Event narrative

Scattered thunderstorms developed across southern Utah on Saturday, moving across the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument towards the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Locally heavy rainfall was associated with these thunderstorms, with radar estimated rainfall from around 0.75 inches to 1.5 inches noted across the Buckskin Gulch area. Two flood waves resulted, as noted on the Paria River at Lees Ferry gauge, downstream of the canyon. This gauge showed an initial gradual increase to around 50 cfs over the course of 2 hours, followed by a rapid increase to approximately 150 cfs over 15 minutes. The second bump would correlate to roughly a 1 foot rise at Lees Ferry, which would be much higher in the narrow slot canyon area of Buckskin Gulch. During the time of flood waves propagation through the slot canyon, at least 2 permitted hikers were hiking through the canyon. They were reported to be planning on hiking approximately 5 miles into Wire Pass and the Buckskin Gulch slot canyon areas. Kane County Sherriff's department received word of a deceased person within the trail, and subsequently recovered the bodies of two deceased individuals. It is believed that the men drowned in the initial flood wave, and were then washed 7 to 10 miles downstream.

Wider weather episode

Thunderstorms across the region resulted in hazardous conditions developing in area slot canyons and typically dry washes. The Buckskin Gulch slot canyon had a flood wave develop, with subsequent fatalities associated with the flood.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.0810, -111.8850)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1100345. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.