Mike McPharlin saw the clouds building into dark columns over the Capitol Gorge picnic area in Capitol Reef National Park and told his wife, Carolyn, they needed to leave. About 20 minutes later, with little warning, the skies opened up and fat bulbs of water began falling on their car.
That June 23 shower was steady but brief, recalled McPharlin, a 73-year-old retiree from Millcreek. Its cumulative impact was powerful and punishing, as McPharlin captured in a video of a rogue waterfall pouring over a cliff.
As many as eight vehicles were damaged or destroyed by flash floods that crashed over cliffs and swept through the area. No one died, but 60 park visitors had to be rescued, including several by helicopter...