Flood Watches are in effect across parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado as successive Pacific moisture surges raise the flash-flood threat through early November 2, 2026. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has placed the Four Corners under a Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall for November 1, when it expects a high-impact heavy rainfall event over saturated ground.
Heavy rain is forecast across the Four Corners region through 05:00 PT (12:00 UTC) on September 30, with 50–100 mm (2–4 inches) expected across much of eastern Arizona, western New Mexico, and the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. Moderate Risk excessive-rainfall outlooks, level 3 of 4, cover much of Arizona and New Mexico and parts of southern Utah and southern Colorado, corresponding to a ≥40% probability of flash flooding.
A 19-year-old hiker died and multiple people were injured when lightning struck a small structure near the summit of Mount Timpanogos, Utah, on September 18, 2026.
A tornado touched down east of Fruit Heights, Utah, at approximately 13:52 LT (19:52 UTC) on September 18, 2026, as severe thunderstorms moved across Davis County and surrounding areas. Rain and damage was reported in the affected areas. The National Weather Service (NWS) had issued a tornado warning for portions of Davis, Weber and Morgan counties just eight minutes before the reported touchdown.
Another round of heavy showers and thunderstorms was forecast across parts of New Mexico, Utah and Colorado on September 17, 2026, prompting Flood Watches for areas vulnerable to rapid runoff and flash flooding. A moisture-rich disturbance was then expected to move northeast into South Dakota, where the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) forecast 51–102 mm (2–4 inches) of rain with locally higher totals.
Thunderstorms producing up to an estimated 51 mm (2 inches) of rain triggered flash flooding at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah on August 24, 2026, prompting four rescue operations involving 11 hikers. Two people were taken to a hospital with signs of hypothermia, State Route 12 was temporarily closed, and a downstream USGS gauge on the Paria River rose from near-zero flow to 79 m3/s (2 780 feet3/s) in about 20 minutes.
A pilot and one crewmember were killed when a helicopter under contract to the U.S. Forest Service crashed during operations on Utah’s Widemouth 2 Fire on August 7, 2026. By August 8, the fire had burned approximately 43 079 ha (106 450 acres), was 24% contained and continued to show extreme fire behavior, with evacuations and closures still in effect.
The Widemouth 2 Fire more than tripled between mapped observations in central Utah, increasing from 4 168 ha (10 300 acres) late on August 1, 2026, to 14 746 ha (36 438 acres) on August 2 as strong southerly winds pushed it north toward Fillmore. Mandatory evacuation orders expanded into southern Fillmore, while the fire was reported at 0% containment in the latest available update.
Extreme Heat Watches have been issued for large portions of Utah, Montana, and north-central Wyoming as widespread dangerous heat is forecast from Friday, July 24, through Sunday, July 26, with some areas remaining under hazardous conditions into early next week. Afternoon temperatures are forecast to reach 35 to 43°C (95 to 110°F), while unusually warm nights across northern Utah are expected to limit overnight cooling and increase cumulative heat stress.
A flash flood near Sunglow Campground outside Bicknell, Utah, killed five members of one family on Friday, July 17, 2026, after they arrived in the area to hike and canyoneer, according to local reports citing the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
