LAKE POWELL — Extreme weather caused a boat to capsize on Lake Powell Saturday afternoon, creating a very scary situation for a vacationing family.
A family camping at the back of Crystal Springs Canyon, in a location with a pour-off overhead and a very small beach area, was caught in extreme weather that brought in a considerable amount of rain, causing flash flooding.
“The flood caused a very dangerous and stressful event for the family,” Cynthia Sequanna, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area park ranger, said.
The flash flood came down where the family was mooring their boats, Sequanna said, and the waters rose and reduced the amount of beach where the family was camping. The flooding came over the canyon and caused a current and eddy pocket down below.
One boat sank in the flood, but nobody was injured or killed, which was the most fortunate thing, Sequanna said.
“When visitors choose a campsite, they should kind of study the place around them,” Sequanna said. “They need to look up and down and all around and think about where water might flow into that canyon.”
Sequanna said people need to always plan ahead when vacationing and be aware of the weather forecast and any impending storms in the area. They should also pay attention to flash flood warnings and severe weather events. Anyone planning to be out on the lake for a few days should check the weather forecast daily to see if the forecast has changed.
Flash floods can dislodge large boulders, rocks, trees, and also carry a lot of debris, Sequanna said.
“It’s always advisable to keep an eye on the horizon,” she said, “especially upstream from where you’re at. If there are any dark clouds, you should anticipate the possibilities that there could be flash flooding in the near future.”
“Choosing your campsite is really, really important,” Sequanna said.
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