UPDATED: 4/12/2023; 8:59 p.m.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – The Wasatch Front is experiencing widespread flooding after a historic winter is being thawed out by a rapid rise in temperatures, increasing water runoff in several areas.

ABC4 has confirmed reports of flooding in North Ogden City, Kaysville and Salt Lake City and is working on confirming reports from other locations across the valley. Officials across the valley are reminding the public not to drive through a sandbagged or flooded area and to “please turn around and don’t drown.”

See below for an updated list of flooding locations:

Morgan County

A section of Highway 66 is now closed in both directions. The 2800 block of Highway 88 in Porterville is underwater once again. The road was closed overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday morning.

Southbound traffic on Highway 66 should use Richville Lane to Morgan Valley Drive and back onto the highway. Northbound Highway 66 traffic should turn onto Morgan Valley Drive to Richville Lane and back onto the highway.

Morgan County Fire and EMS said about nine homes were impacted by the rushing waters but volunteers in the community helped prevent significant damage to any of the houses.

“The danger is far from over,” warned Morgan County Fire and EMS. “Expect road closures in and around this area and follow the Morgan County Fire and EMS Facebook page for all flooding-affected areas in the county.”

North Ogden City

Fruitland Drive and Mountain Road are currently closed at 1700 North due to flooding. Residents are asked to avoid the area as traffic is being diverted west at 1700 North. Traffic could be rerouted again if flooding issues continue as the day goes on.

“The source of the water is from mountain spring runoff which has exceeded the capacity of the existing drainages,” said Jon Call, North Ogden City Manager.

Call adds that the runoff from the mountains began to contain a significant amount of debris, rocks and sediments, resulting in clogged storm drains across the east side of the city.

“The excessive foreign materials began to collect and fill in the existing ditches at the
private driveway culverts along 1700 N,” Call said.

City crews and volunteers were able to clear the blockage in underground pipes Wednesday afternoon so that floodwater will be limited on Fruitland Drive. They will continue to work through the night to keep the flood water flowing in the right direction.

Salt Lake City

1700 South is closed between 1500 East and 1900 East due to water overflowing from Emigration Creek and debris blocking the outlet of the basin. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall reports that water is now moving along 1500 East then south onto Blaine Ave.

Salt Lake City Police said they were on the scene working with Salt Lake City Fire and the Department of Public Works to divert water and help homeowners in the area. In a recent update, Salt Lake City Police said crews have done a great job in working quickly to safely divert water.

Residents are asked to avoid Wasatch Hollow Park.

As of Wednesday evening, Salt Lake City Fire is evacuating about 35 homes, which amount to around 100 residents, located near 1700 S between 1500 E and 1700 E due to flooding. Red Cross has opened an evacuation shelter at the LDS church on 2215 E. Roosevelt Ave.

Anyone in need of shelter from the flooding can come to the evacuation center or call 1-800-RED CROSS for assistance.

Kaysville

In Kaysville, 25 homes have been evacuated after flooding collapsed pavement and drinking water utilities in the area. Public Works Director Josh Belnap told ABC4 that flooding was one of the areas where the runoff flows into the storm drain, which got plugged overnight.

Residents affected by the evacuation are encouraged to contact the American Red Cross of Utah at 1-800-RED-CROSS or by going to the nearby evacuation shelter located at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1085 North and 50 East.

Ivory Homes, the contractor responsible for building the homes in the Orchard Ridge community, released the following statement:

We are alarmed by the significant flooding in the Orchard Ridge Community in east Kaysville. We are grateful that everyone in the area is reported to be safe. Our initial inspection indicates that uphill from Orchard Ridge, a substantial amount of water from snowmelt, accelerated by the recent warm weather, inundated the city storm drain system. The volume of the water directed at the system was beyond the capacity of that system, and as a result, the water significantly undermined these new streets. No new homes have had interior water infiltration and we are grateful there has been no private property damage.

Ivory Homes is working closely with Kaysville City representatives who have been very proactive in responding to this crisis. In addition to their work, our trade partners and crews are delivering thousands of sandbags to assist the city and affected homeowners.

We are confident that the city will find a solution to prevent future flooding and we will work arm in arm with them until the situation is resolved.

Kearns

Water appears to be coming up through the street near the intersection of Intermission and 6200 South.