High Wind — Southwest Utah, Utah

2024-05-05 · Southwest Utah, Utah

Event narrative

The BRIMSTONE RESERVOIR RAWS measured the first wind gust exceeding high wind criteria, with an initial high wind gust of 58 mph observed 5/5 at 12:25 am MST. The Milford Municipal Airport/Ben and Judy Briscoe Field ASOS measured the last wind gust exceeding high wind criteria, with a final high wind gust of 59 mph observed 5/5 at 10:50 am MST. The I-15 at MP 57 Cedar City mesonet site measured the zone's peak wind gust during the event, with a gust of 71 mph observed 5/5 at 4:20 am MST. Additionally, the Cedar City Regional Airport ASOS measured a period of 59 mph wind gusts between 8:35 am MST and 8:55 am MST 5/5. Many of these sites recorded multiple wind gusts in excess of 58 mph throughout the event.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1166634. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.