Flooding forces road closures in southern Utah

Southern Utahns were cleaning up Wednesday after flooding in neighborhoods and on roadways.

In Hurricane, crews diverted a deluge of water away from homes near 2050 South and 160 West.

Hurricane police Sgt. Brandon Buell said city sandbagging crews and youth volunteers succeeded in sparing most homes, although one property owner reported water in a garage and another reported water had run along side of a home.

In Zion National Park, the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway was closed between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance because flood waters blocked a culvert and undercut the road.

State Road 24 was closed due to debris flows just east of the Capitol Reef visitors center as well as between Caineville and Hanksville. Flooding also closed State Road 95 south of Hanksville.

National Weather Service meteorologist Randy Graham said mud also had flowed over State Road 12 near the town of Escalante, and early Wednesday morning rain sent debris down the Seeley Fire burn scar and onto State Road 31, near Huntington.

"We've had widespread, long duration rainfall event where we're putting a lot of water down there," Graham added.

Later Wednesday, the Utah Department of Transportation reported that State Road 29, east of Castle Dale in Emery County, was closed due to debris and flooding.

In Clearfield, the Center Street bridge remained closed and was likely to remain closed for two more weeks. An embankment by the bridge was partly washed away Tuesday by an irrigation malfunction and rain. City Manager Adam Lenhard described the damage as "cosmetic," but said the city would keep the bridge closed to repair it even though the structure itself was still sound.

The bridge, just west of State Street, was a detour route as the Utah Department of Transportation closed State Road 193 for its own maintenance. Since heavy trucks would be passing over the bridge, city officials decided it would be a better idea to make the repairs as soon as possible.

"We felt that it was better safe than sorry," Lenhard said.

Janelle Stecklein —

Cave opens

Timpanogos Cave reopened Tuesday morning after spending several days closed due to debris slides. The cave closed Saturday afternoon after heavy rain sent debris tumbling onto the trail to the cave and nearby State Road 92.

Updates are available via Twitter at @timpcavenps, on the park's Facebook page or call 801-756-5238.