The storms generally dissipate by evening, and the next morning the cycle repeats itself. Eventually the clouds burst, producing torrential afternoon thunderstorms.
Hot air rises as fast as 50 feet per second, creating an area of low pressure that draws warm, humid air from the Gulf of California and the Gulf of Mexico.Īs the hot, humid air rises it comes into contact with cold, high-altitude air, forming enormous anvil-headed clouds that grow dark and ominous as they rise thousands of feet. Zion’s weather is heavily influenced by the North American Monsoon, which affects seasonal precipitation throughout the American Southwest.ĭuring the hottest months of the year-July through mid-September-the desert bakes under intense solar radiation. See also Best Times to Visit Zion National Park Monsoon Season Zion Summer Weather Take a few minutes to learn about Zion’s weather, and you can safely enjoy one of America’s most amazing national parks. Flash floods (see below) are a serious risk when exploring Zion’s narrow canyons, particularly during the summer monsoon season. Understanding Zion’s weather patterns will not only help you plan a great trip to the park-it could also save your life.
Summer is hot with regular thunderstorms. Jin this picture taken obtained from social media.Weather in Zion National Park varies significantly throughout the year. Since many visitors to Zion also travel to other national parks in Utah, Rowland urged them to check the daily flooding potential for the parks in deciding when to visit each one.įlash flooding erupts after heavy rainfall in Zion National Park near Springdale, Utah, U.S. Southwest experiences monsoon season during the summer in which afternoon thunderstorms can bring heavy rain. “I just, pedal to the metal, get the heck out of there,” he recounted. They were at the bottom of the lot and realized they needed to get to higher ground to avoid being trapped, Smith said. When the rain started, Stacy Cathey and her husband, Rodney Smith, of Atlanta, who were visiting the park with another couple, were in a van in a parking lot at the entrance Springdale, which they said filled up like a swimming pool within about 20 minutes, KSTU-TV reported. Shuttle buses were not running in neighboring Springdale, where debris was still being removed, she said.
#Utah zion national park flash flood drivers#
Roads have been cleared in the park, allowing cars and park shuttles to get around but drivers were being asked to drive carefully and to go slowly around equipment, Rowland said. In 2015, seven hikers were killed there when a storm flooded a narrow canyon. Tuesday’s flash flood hit an area in the southern portion of the park with buildings, allowing people to take shelter from the water and the hidden debris, such as logs and rocks, it can often carry, park spokesperson Amanda Rowland said.
SPRINGDALE, Utah (AP) - Zion National Park officials and business owners in a nearby tourist town were still cleaning up and assessing the damage Thursday from a massive flash flood that ripped through the popular red rock park, sending mud and debris onto streets.
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