In such a dry climate as Zion National Park, drowning is not the most obvious way a visitor might die, but it happens.
According to Ron Terry, Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services at Zion, “there have been eight flash flood deaths in Zion National Park going back to 1909 when the park was first established as Mukuntuweap National Monument. There were five deaths, all in the same party, in a flash flood in the Zion Narrows in 1961. There were two flash-flood deaths in the Zion Narrows in 1998 and one death on the Canyon Overlook Trail due to flash flooding in 2001.”
Flash floods are no joke. A thunderstorm can dump an astonishing amount of water in just minutes, and it all has to go somewhere. If the rain falls on rock, then little is absorbed by dirt, and the rest runs swiftly downstream. Park officials say that flash floods can occur at any time, but are more common in mid-summer and early fall.
Because of this past history, weather forecasts, flash flood potential ratings, and stream reports are available at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, (435) 772-0170. Permits are not issued when the flow is greater than 120 cubic feet per second. The National Weather Service (NWS) Salt Lake City office produces a product called the Flash Flood Potential Rating (FFPR). The FFPR is issued twice daily during the summer and fall seasons, roughly from mid May to late October.
Clear skies do NOT guarantee dry slot canyons, according to the National Weather Service. Thunderstorms can drop their load many miles away, and flash floods can travel as much as 10 hours after a precipitation event. Even if a thunderstorm happens just a few miles away, if you’re at the bottom of a canyon, you won’t know about it.
Zion National Park safety experts note the following signs of possible flash flooding:
· Sudden changes in water clarity from clear to muddy.
· Rising water levels or stronger currents.
· Build-up of clouds or sounds of thunder.
· An increasing roar of water from up-canyon.
· Any deterioration in weather conditions.
· If you observe any of these signs, seek higher ground immediately. Do NOT try to beat a flash flood out of the canyon.
· It is dangerous to hike in the Narrows during July and August, when flood danger is highest, but flash floods can and do happen unpredictably.
