High Wind — Eastern Uinta Basin, Utah

2024-05-05 to 2024-05-07 · Eastern Uinta Basin, Utah

Event narrative

Gusts across the zone ranged from 45 mph to near 65 mph. The peak recorded gust was 62 mph on the evening of the 6th, recorded at a Citizen Weather Observation Program Mesonet site in Vernal. While this was the only recorded gust above 58 mph, gusts above 45 mph were recorded through the duration of the event, even into the post-cold frontal regime on the evening of the 7th. Peak gusts on the evening of the 6th were associated with the immediately pre-frontal airmass.

Wider weather episode

As an unseasonably strong Pacific trough moved inland in the days leading up to this wind event, the pressure gradient ahead of it began to tighten. An accompanying deep layer jet streak brought an additional boost to winds ahead of this trough. Although the winds began early on the morning of the 5th, they lasted through the cold front passage on the 7th, particularly at higher elevations. Multiple wind highlights, with a combination of High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories, were in effect for this event.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1181607. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.