A major Pacific storm system slowly moved east over Utah and brought incredible amounts of rain and snow to most locations. Strong southwest flow ahead of an upper level trough tapped tropical moisture southwest of Hawaii. This moisture streamed northeastward over the state from Sunday the 17th through Friday the 22nd. Many areas in Washington county reported flash flooding. Several bridges were washed away and many people reported flooded basements. Heavy snow fell at higher elevations in the mountains near the Elk Meadows Ski Resort where 5 feet of the white stuff was measured. The heavy, wet snow knocked down power lines in the mountains of southwest Utah. Many mountain roads east and southeast of Cedar City became impassible. Several homes in the Cedar Meadows subdivision in Cedar City were completely flooded by the heavy rains. In St. George, the Virgin River was running 25 to 30 feet higher than average by the 21st. Northern Utah did not escape the flooding and heavy, wet snow. A flash flood was reported in Centerville after 1.51 inches of rain fell in a two hour period. Heavy snow also fell in the mountains of the north with 56 inches on Mt. Baldy above Alta, 36 inches in Alta, 25 inches in Thaynes Canyon above Park City, 24 inches at Snowbird, and 22 inches at Trial Lake. It was the snowiest October on record for Alta and Silver Lake Brighton. Alta recorded 81 inches and Silver Lake Brighton came in with 77.5. The water equivalent of the snow that fell was also impressive with 7.91 inches at Lava Point in Zion National Park, 7.80 inches at Snowbird, 7.60 inches at Timpanogos Divide,  6.54 in Thaynes Canyon, 6.20 inches at Rocky Basin in the Oquirrh mountains, 5.54 inches at Alta, and 5.20 inches in Farmington Canyon.The worst flooding problems with this storm system occurred in Washington and Iron counties. Flooding along the La Verkin Creek in Zion National Park trapped several hikers. Rushing water unable to make its way around debris underneath a bridge on Coal Creek in Cedar City caused water to flood homes in a nearby subdivision. High water on the Ash and La Verkin Creeks took out several bridges in Toquerville. Water from the overflowing Baker Dam Reservoir flooded homes in the town of Brookside along the Santa Clara River. Basement and Creek/River flooding was reported in Escalante, New Harmony, Hilldale, Farmington, Draper, and Herriman.The following stations recorded their wettest October on record.  Silver Lake Brighton with 10.22 inches, Ogden with 7.50 inches, Alpine 5.91, Zion National Park and Kanab 5.83 inches, Logan 5.62 inches, Brigham City 5.41, Farmington 5.29, Milford 4.83, Pleasant Grove 4.81, Cedar City 3.80, and Myton 3.30.Salt Lake City recorded a record tying 13 days of measurable precipitation. October 2004 was the fourth wettest month on record in Salt Lake City with 3.48 inches.

Heavy Snow in X NW KANE/XS XE IRON/N W WASHINGTON/NW WC GARFIELD/PIUTE/W WAYNE/SEVIER T C/X E MILLARD/S SANPETE T SC/X SE JUAB/P X NW EMERY/X E BEAVER, UTAH
From 21-OCT-04 10:00:00 to 21-OCT-04 14:00:00 (MST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Flash Flood in WASHINGTON, UTAH
From 21-OCT-04 11:10:00 to 21-OCT-04 13:00:00 (MST)
Location: ZION NATIONAL PARK
Property damage: 0K
Reported by: PARK/FOREST SERVICE

Flash Flood in IRON, UTAH
From 21-OCT-04 14:20:00 to 21-OCT-04 16:00:00 (MST)
Location: CEDAR CITY
Property damage: 400K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Flash Flood in WASHINGTON, UTAH
From 20-OCT-04 11:58:00 to 21-OCT-04 14:00:00 (MST)
Location: TOQUERVILLE
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Flash Flood in WASHINGTON, UTAH
From 20-OCT-04 14:15:00 to 21-OCT-04 16:00:00 (MST)
Location: PINE VLY
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Flash Flood in WASHINGTON, UTAH
From 20-OCT-04 15:00:00 to 21-OCT-04 17:00:00 (MST)
Location: NEW HARMONY
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Flash Flood in WASHINGTON, UTAH
From 20-OCT-04 16:35:00 to 20-OCT-04 18:00:00 (MST)
Location: PINE VLY
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Flash Flood in WASHINGTON, UTAH
From 20-OCT-04 19:06:00 to 20-OCT-04 21:00:00 (MST)
Location: ENTERPRISE
Property damage: 80K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Flash Flood in WASHINGTON, UTAH
From 20-OCT-04 19:31:00 to 20-OCT-04 21:30:00 (MST)
Location: TOQUERVILLE
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Flash Flood in WASHINGTON, UTAH
From 21-OCT-04 00:00:00 to 21-OCT-04 02:00:00 (MST)
Location: HURRICANE
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flash Flood in DAVIS, UTAH
From 21-OCT-04 08:00:00 to 21-OCT-04 09:00:00 (MST)
Location: CENTERVILLE
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Flash Flood in WASHINGTON, UTAH
From 21-OCT-04 08:10:00 to 21-OCT-04 10:00:00 (MST)
Location: SOUTHEAST PORTION
Property damage: 0K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER