Residents along the lower Weber River are now being told that flooding conditions will likely soon be upon them.

In a Facebook message posted late Wednesday afternoon, the Weber County Sheriff’s Office stated that flooding could begin as early as next week.

“With this week’s run off, increased temperatures and amount of snowmelt, we want to provide you with advance notice that the lower Weber River will be running at or above flood stage beginning the end of next week,” the post reads. “We advise those residents that live along the lower Weber River to take steps necessary to protect their property.”

According to the National Weather Service’s Colorado Basin River Forecast Center website as of Wednesday evening, the Plain City gauge along the Weber River is currently forecasting that the river will break flood stage around Tuesday, peaking next Thursday, May 4, at 28 feet, which is considered “moderate flooding” level.

Flooding due to high snowpack has been on the minds of Utah officials throughout the month of April.

Last week, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency, in part, due to the potential of flooding this spring.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the moisture we’ve received this winter, but the extra rain and hefty snowpack present increasing flood risks as the snow melts,” he said in a press release announcing the emergency declaration. “By declaring a state of emergency, the state will be better able to tap into reserve funds to support flood response and mitigation efforts. In short, we’ll be better prepared for what lies ahead this spring.”

Following an appearance at the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve on Tuesday, Cox told local media that conditions have at least held off the worst of the flooding in the region, so far.

“What we’ve been doing is releasing water from the reservoirs during this cold time so the waters are running high,” he said. “That’s to prepare room for the faster running water so we can prevent some of the flooding that’s happening and we can mitigate that. Now, if we start to get into the mid-80s in Northern Utah, that’s when things start to get a little dicey. This warmer-cooler-warmer weather, that’s good for us right now. I do worry as we get later into May. That’s when we’re more likely to have a 90-degree day.”

For more information, visit webercountyutah.gov/sheriff/homeland.

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