This is one of those cases in which no rain may be falling and yet verydangerous flash floods can occur. During the past winter season, a tremendoussnowpack built up in the Rockies. In the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, over 600inches of snow fell since October. Quite impressive was the 14 feet of snowthat fell in Alta, Utah, during a 14-day stretch at the end of March andbeginning of April.All that snow still covering the mountains contains a lot of water and whenit melts too fast, like it did early this week, runoff becomes excessive. Theflow turns small streams and babbling brooks into raging torrents that caneasily sweep unwary hikers to their doom.
An even greater threat to lives are those usually dry mountainside ravines.
These channels are inviting hiking territory, since they have fewerobstructions. But remember, these are dry washes that can suddenly fill withfast-moving water during rapid thaws.
Story by AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.
