High Wind in Great Salt Lake Desert and Mountains, Utah

The CAMEL BACK MTN mesonet site measured the first wind gust exceeding high wind criteria, with an initial high wind gust of 62 mph observed 5/4 at 7:25 pm MST. The Lakeside Mountain mesonet site measured the last wind gust exceeding high wind criteria, with a final high wind gust of 60 mph observed 5/5 at 8:40 am MST. The peak wind gust during the event was a gust of 72 mph observed at the English Village mesonet site 5/4 at 10:40 pm MST and also recorded 5/5 at 12:05 am MST by the CAMEL BACK MTN mesonet site. Finally, some additional selected observed gusts at mesonet sites included 70 mph at I-80 at Grassey, 68 mph at Sr-196 At Mp 2 Dugway, and 59 mph at I-80 At Mp 68 West Delle. Many sites recorded multiple wind gusts in excess of 58 mph throughout the event.

A cold season type of trough and associated surface features moved through Utah in early May. Ahead of the system, strong synoptic wind gusts occurred throughout portions of the state. While wind gusts decreased following a cold frontal passage, precipitation increased. Periods of post-frontal precipitation then continued in the unsettled northwesterly flow as the trough shifted through the region. Given anomalously cold air associated with the trough, some area mountains received Winter Storm levels of snow, and sub-warning snow amounts were even observed in some lower elevation valley locations. Following the systems departure, a fatal avalanche occurred involving multiple backcountry skiers.