Flash flooding forced evacuations in Hurricane, in Washington County in southern Utah, on Thursday afternoon, October 22, after thunderstorms dumped 1 to 2 inches of rain across the county and sent a large flood wave down Gould Wash, The Weather Channel reported.

Source: The Weather Channel

Hurricane Police ordered residents at the Willow Wind Complex, at 80 South 1150 West, and homes along Gould Wash to evacuate because of active or imminent flooding, according to Townsquare Media's Utah stations. Medical personnel were staged at the Coral Cliffs movie theater at 835 West State Street, and a stake center at 272 South 700 West was opened as an emergency shelter.

Source: Cat Country Utah / Townsquare

The National Weather Service said heavy, localized rain of 1 to 2 inches in the Gould Wash headwaters produced the flood wave that moved downstream through Hurricane. Flash flood warnings also covered La Verkin and Virgin, and a broader flood watch remained in effect across much of southern and eastern Utah, with more showers and thunderstorms possible through Thursday evening.

In the wider southern Utah area, Gephardt Daily reported residents sharing photos and videos of washed-out neighborhoods in the Hurricane area and other parts of Washington County on Thursday afternoon, and a National Weather Service warning at 3:20 p.m. local time predicting winds of 40 to 55 mph and half-inch hail, with torrential rain that could lead to more flash flooding.

Source: Gephardt Daily

Officials urged people travelling through La Verkin, Virgin, Hurricane and the Zion area to check road conditions and weather alerts before leaving, and told hikers to stay out of slot canyons, washes and other low-lying areas until the threat passes. The Weather Service warning repeated its standard advice: do not drive through flooded roadways.