Tropical Storm Rachel is expected to hit northern Utah Saturday evening with heavy rain, damaging winds and flooding through Monday, Oct. 12.

The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City issued Flood Watches from Saturday through Monday afternoon for nearly the entire state. The agency forecasts widespread rainfall of 1 to 2 inches across the region, with localized totals reaching 3 inches or more at higher elevations.

ABC4 meteorologist Seth Sanders reported Saturday, Oct. 10, that some areas could see 2 to 4 inches, with the potential for 6 to 8 inches in certain locations. The Wasatch Front, which includes Bountiful, Woods Cross, North Salt Lake and Farmington, lies directly in the storm's path for the heaviest rain.

Wind Advisories cover the Wasatch Front through 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. Southerly winds of 25 to 35 mph are expected, with gusts up to 55 mph, according to ABC4. The NWS said advisory-level winds could persist through Monday afternoon. Power outages are expected, and minor property damage from wind is possible.

The NWS warned that flooding is likely in roadways, low-lying areas, near streams and downstream from burn scars. Poor drainage areas, retention basins and steep terrain face elevated risk, KUTV reported.

Most Utah locations average 0.75 to 1.25 inches of rain for the entire month of October. Some areas could receive that amount in hours. Utah typically gets 15.5 inches of rain in a full year, meaning parts of the state could see 10 to 20% of their annual rainfall in under a week, according to KUTV.

Sunday, Oct. 11, is expected to bring the worst conditions. A secondary storm system from the north could keep moisture in the area through Wednesday, Oct. 14, raising flood concerns even as precipitation decreases. Sanders called the storm "significant, prolonged, and destructive," adding that severe weather "could happen anywhere across the state."

Last October, a similar tropical system caused record-breaking precipitation and a 100-year flood in Tooele. Sanders said the current setup looks worse than last year's.

Several Wasatch Front cities have made sandbags available to residents, though no Bountiful, Woods Cross, North Salt Lake or Farmington distribution sites appeared in public announcements as of Saturday, Oct. 10. Residents should check their city's website or call their local public works department for Davis County sandbag resources.

The Washington County Emergency Operations Center urged residents to secure loose items such as lawn furniture, trash cans and trampolines, trim dead branches, clear gutters and drains, and review alternate driving routes in case of road flooding. The NWS advised anyone with outdoor plans to strongly consider canceling, according to KUTV.