Monstrous Flash Flood & Debris Flow l Johnson Canyon, UT 7/16/2018

Witness a monstrous flash flood rip through Johnson Canyon, Utah on July 16, 2018. This flash flood came down with major debris from up near the Bryce Canyon area, including massive pine trees and other refuse from higher elevations. I was able to intercept the flood multiple times as it passed down the canyon. Thank you @rankinstudio for another perfect flash flood forecast and guiding me in this intercept.

If you're wondering where the water from a flash flood comes from, flash floods occur after intense and heavy rainfall, when the ground can no longer absorb the water. Flash floods are so dangerous because they basically create rivers where there were none, and as you can see in this video, they often carry tons of heavy debris with them. Flash floods have the power to move boulders, parked cars, tear out trees, and destroy buildings and even bridges!

7/16/2018

#extremeweather
#flashflood
#utah
#perspective
#tornado
#storm
#stormchase
#stormchasing
#meteorology
#flood

[LynnCDoyle-ekoh]

That must have been one hell of a cloud to hold that much wood.

[matthewboucher]

Man, I can't imagine the raw power this is producing in-person. most likely feel the ground shaking. It amazes me how mother nature shows its true power.

[Tindometari]

And this, folks, is why you never camp or park a vehicle in a dry wash. You don't even hang out or travel in one without a quick escape route in mind. This can happen at any time even if there isn't a cloud in the sky; the thunderhead that set it rolling might be over the horizon.

[machobunny]

I grew up in the desert and was always warned about flash floods. We used to speed into the huge black thunderstorms on our motorcycles for the sheer exhilaration of pouring rain, black skies with blazing lightning and often big hail, roaring wind and sand and water. Amazing. In the desert that doesn't happen often, but when it does it is spectacular to be in it. Never did we see a flash flood.

When I look at this, it is like that is a slow motion, deathly, grinding machine coming down the arroyo, and no one would stand a chance if caught in that mess.

[hellovicki]

Wow, the amount of force necessary to carry that weight of timber, mud and water is extraordinary.

[KSRobinette]

Thanks for this. I never would have thought so much debris could be carried by so little water.

[JacesOwnWorld]

The sound of the water flowing with the sticks breaking is very relaxing. It should be made into music for meditation, study, or sleep.

[itisjustacomment]

I'm amazed how quiet it was, 100's of tons of trees moving at speed. You would think the noise would be deafening.

[critterallywithjohnernest.]

Fall into this and you would get skewered. This is something you probably never see in a lifetime. Really cool video! Mother nature can be a real mother.

[widicamdotnet]

Somewhere downstream, "post 10" is going to need a bigger rake.

[RolandArthur]

How beautiful: Newly spawned twigs, migrating to the ocean. In a few years they will be branches, ready to swim back up the dry river bed to become trees in the same place they started their life as a twig. The circle of life.

[crimzonr]

Wow .. Mother Nature's Fury... I have see it like this first hand . Definitely Respect for Mother Nature

[dextermorgan]

Legend has it he's still standing there saying, "WOW!"

[coleytoons]

I live in Las Vegas, NV and a couple years ago my husband and I were at the "Wetlands" when we noticed the sky was turning pitch black in the Northern area of Vegas we saw lighting and heard thunder but it was sunny where we were. All of a sudden we hear running water and notice that the wash had risen so we decided to head to higher ground from where we were. I started hearing some snapping noises then creaking and then what sounded like wood breaking but I can't figure out where its coming from. Then I see a tree starting to sway. I thought it was from the water and debris hitting it. NOPE it literally uprooted this 50+foot tall tree and swallowed it whole and then another 10 or more trees the same way all this happened within minutes after we decided to get to higher ground and somewhere i got it all on video. It was CRAZY!

[karengiorella]

That's just incredible! All those trees! Ty for uploading this. And for showing the dangers and power of the weather. I'm amazed how quiet that debris flow was. Makes it even more dangerous. Stay safe.

[bcsorensenman]

Dude, you're amazing to have kept ahead and shot so much footage, never seen anything like it before, thanks a billion for posting and showing what is going on in nature. Amazing footage. Hats off to Reed.

[marlaleemouse]

I'd like to see where the flood eventually ends up. What happens to all that debris? Does the flood end up in a larger river? So much timber. It's cool.

[Cobbsouth]

I'll never forget hiking the Virgin River Narrows several years ago, and all the warnings about flash floods. The most compelling one had a photo of an enormous debris flow, with the caption, "I can just swim my way out." Obviously targeted toward those who (like me at the time) have no idea of what a flash flood actually looks like.

[rivco]

Amazing. Once in New Mexico, my partner and I are heading West on I-40, we'd passed through some rain further East but the clouds were breaking up we're in the middle of nowhere and suddenly the traffic comes to a halt. About an hour later, we start moving again and a few miles on we drive through an area of mud they'd just cleared out. This mudflow was 100's of feet wide it inundated the interstate.

[codzy]

im australian and thanks for filming this this is awesome wow we dont have things like this over here but this is frickin unbelievable 😳😧