A hiker was struck by lightning in the Twin Peaks area of Little Cottonwood Canyon on Saturday, July 18, and fell after the strike, according to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office. Search and rescue crews responded to the scene, and the search was ongoing as of Saturday evening.
The sheriff's office has not released the hiker's identity or condition. ABC4 reporter Ryan Bittan first reported the incident Saturday afternoon.
Little Cottonwood Canyon borders Cottonwood Heights, and the Twin Peaks area sits at high elevation near Snowbird, involving exposed ridgeline terrain where hikers are vulnerable to electrical storms.
Lightning safety during monsoon season
The strike occurred during an active monsoon pattern that has brought daily afternoon thunderstorms to Utah's mountains since early July. The National Weather Service Salt Lake City office forecast additional chances of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Sunday, July 19, with a high near 99 degrees in the valley.
AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva warned in a July 12 Newsweek interview that the monsoon posed ongoing hazards for outdoor recreationists across Utah. "People that are hiking and spending time outdoors will want to pay attention to the weather forecast as there will be a risk of flash flooding through the week," DaSilva said.
The National Weather Service advises hikers to start early, descend from exposed ridges and peaks before noon, and monitor conditions closely. Afternoon thunderstorms can develop rapidly at high elevations with little warning.
Getting to the canyon
Residents heading into Little Cottonwood Canyon should be aware that Rocky Mountain Power paving work on SR-210 is ongoing through Thursday, Aug. 6. One-way traffic controlled by flaggers and delays in both directions are expected from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, according to UDOT.
The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office has not announced when it will release further details about the search. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
