Mudslide closes State Road 31 in Emery County

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State Road 31 in Emery County was closed Thursday from milepost 34, which is about 15 miles northwest of Huntington, to milepost 23 due to a mud slide and debris flow, according to the Utah Department of Transportation.

There is currently no estimated time for re-opening and motorists are advised to use alternate routes of travel.

The same section of highway was closed on July 16 and again on July 18 due to flood debris caused by heavy rains.

The two slide areas are at Nuck Woodward Canyon, at milepost 29, and Pole Canyon, at milepost 31, according to Janalee Luke of the Emery County Sheriff's Office.

UDOT Spokesman Adan Carrillo said crews did not have a firm estimate on when the road would be reopened but that they hoped to have the area cleared by late Thursday night.

The area is near where the so-called Seeley Fire last year burned nearly 50,000 acres of forest land.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning, in effect until 5:30 p.m., for northwestern Emery and southwestern Carbon counties.

A similar warning was in effect until 7:30 p.m. for north central Sanpete County, where heavy rain was expected over the 2012 Wood Hollow burn scar.