High Wind — Southwest Utah, Utah

2024-03-01 to 2024-03-02 · Southwest Utah, Utah

Event narrative

The I-15 at MP57 Cedar City mesonet site measured the first wind gust exceeding high wind criteria, with an initial high wind gust of 58 mph observed 3/1 at 11:30 am MST. The I-15 at MP54 Hamiltons Fort mesonet site measured the last wind gust exceeding high wind criteria, with a final high wind gust of 59 mph observed 3/2 at 6:40 pm MST. The Milford Municipal Airport/Ben and Judy Briscoe Field ASOS measured the zone's peak wind gust during the event, with a gust of 78 mph observed 3/2 at 1:56 pm MST. The Cedar City Regional Airport ASOS measured a high wind gust of 64 mph 3/2 at 11:34 am MST. Finally, some additional selected observed gusts at mesonet sites in the zone through the event time included 72 mph at I-15 at MP 57 Cedar City, 65 mph at I-15 at MP 62 N Cedar City, 60 mph at Brimstone Reservoir, and 58 mph at I-15 at Paragonah. Many sites recorded multiple wind gusts in excess of 58 mph throughout the event.

Wider weather episode

A strong system approached the region for the start of March, with very anomalously strong low level flow noted ahead of a cold frontal boundary. This strong low level flow resulted in a prolonged period of strong sustained and gusty winds across almost the entirety of Utah. As the cold front moved into northern Utah, some areas experienced convective precipitation and associated strong wind gusts. Winds began to subside following the passage of the cold front, but the colder air allowed for precipitation to transition to snow, yielding accumulating snow across much of the area. Mountain locations which remained sufficiently cold throughout the event received fairly substantial snow accumulations in addition to the prolonged strong winds.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1156986. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.