High Wind — Northern Wasatch Front, Utah

2024-03-14 to 2024-03-17 · Northern Wasatch Front, Utah

Event narrative

The US-89 at MP 406 Weber River mesonet site measured the first wind gust exceeding high wind criteria, with an initial high wind gust of 62 mph observed 3/14 at 10:10 am MST. The US-89 at Park Lane mesonet site measured the last wind gust exceeding high wind criteria, with a final high wind gust of 58 mph observed 3/17 at 8:40 am MST. The US-89 at Park Lane mesonet site also measured the zone's peak wind gust during the event, with a gust of 72 mph observed 3/16 at 6:55 am MST. The Ogden-Hinckley Airport ASOS also measured several high wind gusts in excess of 58 mph. Finally, some additional selected observed gusts at mesonet sites in the zone through the event time included 66 mph at EW1185 Kaysville, 60 mph at Layton, 58 mph at I-15 At MP 333 Antelope Drive, and 58 mph at I-15 Farr West. Many sites recorded multiple wind gusts in excess of 58 mph throughout the event.

Wider weather episode

An initially modest cool season system and associated cold front brought precipitation to areas of Utah. For this period of the event, Utah's central mountains received slightly more notable snow, with limited impacts elsewhere through the state. This system then evolved into a cutoff low, which more or less meandered around the California/Arizona/Utah border region before eventually becoming reabsorbed into the greater flow several days later. Due to this, several prone locations in northern Utah valleys saw somewhat persistent strong easterly downslope winds, while areas in southern Utah (both low elevations and mountains) saw periods of impactful snow.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1164793. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.