Grand Canyon under storm threat after deadly weekend flooding | Today’s news
(Bloomberg) — Another round of heavy rain threatens to complicate search and rescue efforts in the Grand Canyon, where two people died and more than a dozen are still missing after catastrophic flooding swept through popular tourist areas on Saturday.
Seasonal monsoon rains dropped about a month’s worth of moisture over steep mountain terrain in Grand Canyon National Park this weekend, according to estimates from the U.S. National Weather Service. Flood warnings now cover much of Arizona, and rainfall could reach more than an inch per hour by Monday night local time.
“Following recent heavy rains and significant flash flooding, the region is extremely vulnerable,” Weather Prediction Center forecaster Joshua Weiss wrote Monday. “Any further heavy rain today is likely to result in flash flooding impacts which could be locally significant.”
Flash flooding swept through the park starting around 2:30 p.m. local time Saturday in Bright Angel Canyon, prompting an evacuation in the nearby Phantom Ranch area. The ranch—a collection of lodges and cabins located on the canyon floor—is a key destination for hikers who travel through the park from rim to rim.
The body of a 46-year-old man was found Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River, the National Park Service said in an update. The death toll rose to two Monday morning as search and recovery efforts continued, according to a post on X. The National Park Service did not provide further updates on the number of people missing.
In an X post Saturday, the Park Service said it was conducting an air evacuation for about 50 people in an area near Phantom Ranch that can only be reached by river raft, foot or mule.
Both the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Grand Canyon National Park staff responded to the event Sunday and are assisting with evacuations and accounting for those who may have been in the affected areas. The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office was also on scene.
The flooding damaged about 40% of the Transcanyon waterline and left the park with limited water supplies, it said Monday. The National Park Service has been gradually replacing the 1960s pipeline that supplies the campgrounds and lodging facilities due to frequent malfunctions and leaks. Due to the lack of water, the park is set to remain open for day use and “dry camping” only.
–With help from Sarah Gray and Linus Chua.
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