The National Weather Service issued a Flood Warning early Wednesday morning, October 22, at 1:56 AM MST, remaining in effect until 2:00 PM MST the same day. The warning, coordinated through NWS Flagstaff, Arizona, covers seven county-level areas: Coconino County in Arizona; Garfield, Kane, and San Juan counties in Utah; Lake and Volusia counties in Florida; and Brantley County in Georgia.
A Flood Warning means flooding is already occurring or is imminent in the warned areas — this is a step above a Flood Watch, which only means conditions are favorable. Residents in these counties may notice water covering roads, swollen creeks and washes, poor drainage in low-lying neighborhoods, and rapidly rising water in normally dry streambeds, particularly in the desert Southwest where flash flooding can develop quickly after heavy rain.
The affected areas span several regions dealing with separate weather systems. In northern Arizona and southern Utah, slot canyons, desert washes, and low-water crossings are especially prone to flash flooding, even when rain falls miles away. In Florida and coastal Georgia, slow-moving heavy rain can overwhelm drainage and flood streets and yards.
What to do right now
If you are in a warned area, avoid driving through flooded roads — just six inches of moving water can knock a person down, and twelve inches can carry away a small car. Never enter slot canyons or washes during flood warnings, and move to higher ground if water begins rising near your home. Keep a phone charged and monitor local weather radio or alerts through the afternoon, as warnings can be extended if rain continues.
The warning is currently set to expire at 2:00 PM MST on October 22, though conditions will be reassessed as the day progresses.
This information comes from the National Weather Service (NOAA), with the warning issued by NWS Flagstaff, Arizona.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do right now if I'm in one of these counties?
Stay off flooded roads — turn around rather than driving through water of unknown depth. If you live in a low-lying area or near a wash, creek, or river, be ready to move to higher ground quickly.
How long will this flood warning last?
The current warning runs until 2:00 PM MST on October 22. It may be extended, reissued, or allowed to expire depending on how rainfall and runoff develop through the day.
Why are counties in four different states under one warning?
These are separate local flood threats — heavy rain affecting the desert Southwest and parts of the Southeast — grouped in the same alert feed. Each county's flooding risk comes from its own local weather conditions.
Is it safe to hike or camp in places like Kane or Garfield County, Utah right now?
Slot canyons and desert washes in southern Utah and northern Arizona can flash flood even from storms miles upstream. Avoid canyons and low-water crossings until the warning expires and conditions are confirmed safe.
Keep tracking this:
Source: National Weather Service (NWS)
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Sky & Solar Conditions at the Time
Moon: Waxing Gibbous (79% illuminated), in Pisces.
Notable planetary angles: Moon trine Venus (121°), Mercury square Jupiter (88°), Mars trine Saturn (123°), Sun conjunct Venus (4°).
Concurrent space weather: planetary Kp index 3.0; strongest recent solar flare: nothing notable.
This is a factual snapshot, not a claim of cause and effect – researchers are divided on whether lunar, planetary or solar factors influence seismic or weather activity. It’s included so readers can track the pattern for themselves over time.
