Hurricane Linda was a strong tropical cyclone in September 2015 that resulted in heavy rains across portions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States.

Under warm sea surface temperatures and low to moderate wind shear, the system intensified into Tropical Storm Linda by September 6 and a hurricane by the next day.

Thereafter, the storm moved into a stable environment and an area of lower sea surface temperatures, causing rapid weakening.

Although Linda did not directly impact land, moisture from the storm was pulled northeast into the Southwestern United States and enhanced the local monsoon.

Utah was impacted by major flash flooding incidents—with rainfall amounting to 1-in-100 year levels—which left 21 deaths in the state: 14 near Hildale and 7 in Zion National Park.

Following further organization of deep convection, Tropical Depression Fifteen-E developed at 18:00 UTC on September 5 while located about 490 mi (790 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Colima.

[1] Under the influence of a strong mid-level ridge over northern Mexico, the depression moved northwestward into an area of moderate northeasterly vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures.

Between that day and early on September 7, the storm increased in convective banding and developed central dense overcast; satellite imagery also indicated that an eye was forming around that time.

[1] Strengthening resumed by early on September 8, when the system became a Category 3 hurricane, which coincided with satellite imagery indicating a banded eye feature.

Around 12:00 UTC, Linda attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 950 mbar (28 inHg).

After the remaining showers and thunderstorms detached from the low-level circulation, Linda transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone around 12:00 UTC the following day while situated about 260 mi (415 km) west-southwest of Punta Eugenia, Baja California Sur.

[11] Scattered thunderstorms in Oaxaca resulted in multiple landslides and flooding, prompting closure of several highways and damaging more than a dozen homes.

[12][13] Moisture from the hurricane's remnants partially contributed to an enhanced monsoon across the Southwestern United States, combining with a seasonable upper-level trough to bring above-average rainfall to many areas.

[14] Strong winds from a thunderstorm on September 14 knocked five rail cars off their track, costing insurance companies $1.2 million.

[1] Aided by above-average water vapor levels and the aforementioned upper-level trough, scattered thunderstorms developed across the region on September 14.

[24] During the afternoon of September 14, two successive thunderstorms produced more than 2 in (51 mm) of rain—a 1-in-100 year event[25]—near Hildale, Utah in Washington County.

[14] The National Weather Service issued a strongly worded flash flood warning at 20:22 UTC (2:22 p.m. MDT) for the area,[14] stating "Move to higher ground now.

[25] The first storm resulted in a 3.42 ft (1.04 m) rise along the Short Creek, as measured by a stream gauge in Colorado City, Arizona, in 19 minutes around 21:18 UTC (3:18 p.m. MDT),[24][25] with residents gathering nearby to observe.

[34] Ultimately, thousands of people from more than 60 agencies took part in the search for the final victim; efforts were called off by September 29 and the missing boy was presumed dead.

[36] The second flash flood incident occurred in Keyhole Canyon at Zion National Park after 0.63 in (16 mm) of rain fell between 22:30 and 23:30 UTC (4:30 and 5:30 p.m.

[38] Elsewhere, a man from Hurricane, Utah, 15 mi (24 km) west of Hildale, died on September 14 after being swept away by floods while traveling remote dirt roads.