Disasters · Southern Utah floodsEscalante Utah flooding: River reached 1,660 cfs amid three-county warningAired October 23, 2026 at 5:37 PM UTCWritten October 23, 2026 at 5:43 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Heavy rain mostly ended, but swollen rivers kept flood warnings in place.0:11On October 22nd, we reported evacuation orders along Gouldwash and at Willow Wind RV0:16Park in Hurricane.0:18Across the wider region, high water threatens backcountry access.0:21Whether crossings become safe by the warnings deadline is still unresolved.0:25Three counties were covered by the updated warning: San Juan, Southwestern Garfield,0:29and Kane.0:30High flows were expected across the warned area's waterways, including Glen Canyon0:34National Recreation Area, that put river crossings and backcountry travel at risk.0:38Widespread flooding was already happening when the warning was updated Thursday,0:42October 22.0:43The observation came shortly before noon.0:45Normally, dry washes, slot canyons, creeks, and low-lying ground were among the0:49places threatened by high water.0:51The Escalante River near Escalante reached 1,660 cubic feet per second during the0:57hour before Thursday's update.0:59That was its highest flow of this rain event.1:01Cubic feet per second measures how much water passes a point each second.1:05That measurement describes Thursday's river conditions.1:08An all-time record would require a separate historical comparison, and a flow1:12reading can't tell a driver how deep the water is over a particular road.1:16The Paria River had already peaked at 2,500 cubic feet per second on Wednesday1:21evening, October 21st.1:23By Thursday's update, it had fallen but remained high and swift.1:26Further rises were still likely, so a lower reading offered no assurance of a safe1:30crossing.1:31High water could make backcountry roads impassable.1:33The danger extended to places where water collects or moves through narrow terrain.1:38Anyone approaching a wash or canyon could encounter hazardous water even as the1:41heaviest rainfall eased.1:43The warned area had received 1 to 3.5 inches of rain by Thursday's update.1:47Another 0.5 to 1.5 inches was possible then.1:51Rainfall varied across the area, and that additional amount was still a forecast.1:55The warning was updated at 12.07 p.m.1:57Thursday.1:58It set a deadline of 12.15 p.m.2:00Mountain Daylight Time on Friday, October 23, but later that Thursday the weather2:05changed while the flood water remained a concern.2:07Heavy rain had mostly ended over southern Utah by late Thursday night.2:11Flood warnings remained where flows were elevated.2:14Water already moving through the drainage network kept the threat going after the2:17downpours eased.2:19We don't know whether the Three County Warnings Friday deadline was later changed.2:23Newer river levels and the condition of individual crossings are still unresolved.2:27A scheduled warning end alone can't tell someone that a backcountry route is safe.2:31Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.2:33Turn around when you encounter a flooded road and stay out of floodwater.2:37Keep away from dangerous water at riverbanks and culverts.2:41A falling river can still carry high, swift water through a crossing.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗Related coverageBackgroundOct 22 23:49 UTCFlood wave forces evacuations in Hurricane, Utah; safe return unresolved