Hurricane Nora brings downpours to Utah

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    By STEVEN HALL

    The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the southern half of Utah Thursday, brought about by the inland movement of Hurricane Norma.

    Satellite imagery early Thursday morning indicated the hurricane was centered over the northwest coast of the Gulf of California, and traveling to the north at 28 mph.

    After being downgraded to a tropical storm, but still boasting winds of 110 mph as it hit land, Nora arrived in Arizona early Thursday morning with winds ranging from 25 to 65 mph, and began drenching towns like Yuma, which only receives two inches of rain a year, with one quarter to one half inch of rain an hour. A CNN report said that thanks to Nora, some Arizona towns will receive two or three times their annual rainfall by Saturday.

    Although the storm was weakening as it continued northward, St. George began receiving rain Thursday morning, and was expected to receive 1 to 2 inches of rain Thursday and today and another inch possible Saturday, according to the NWS.

    An Associated Press report stated that Washington County Emergency Services Director Dean Cox picked up 15,000 sandbags in preparation for the storm –preparing for weather that may be worse than two weeks ago when the remainder of Tropical Storm Linda dropped almost an inch of rain on southern Utah.

    St. George resident Stephanie Gibson said that southern Utah residents are used to flash floods and will be well prepared when the storm hits.

    “They let us know where to pick up sandbags,” Gibson said. “We’ve been through floods before, so there’s no way we’ll be caught by surprise.”

    According to Public Works Director, Larry Bulloch, St. George is prepared for Nora. Bulloch said crews were checking major drainage channels and cleaning grates and inlets. Equipment would be placed in critical areas, such are river crossings and on major roads, to increase response time, he said.

    The potential for heavy rain and flooding has also prompted the NWS to discourage any travel or outdoor activities, warning travelers to avoid bridges, dips, or low spots if water covers the roadway, according to the Associated Press.

    Wasatch front residents can expect to see some of what remains of Nora. Thunderstorms and heavy rains are likely Friday and Friday night with partly cloudy conditions through Saturday and Sunday.

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