High Wind — Great Salt Lake Desert and Mountains, Utah

2025-03-17 · Great Salt Lake Desert and Mountains, Utah

Event narrative

A period of high winds accompanied a frontal passage into western Utah. The first high wind gust was observed at 7:10 PM MST at the I-80 @ mp 1 mesonet station with a gust of 64 mph. The highest wind gusts recorded occurred at the Wendover Port of Entry mesonet station at 7:15 PM MST and at the I-80 @ mp 29 mesonet station at 7:40 PM MST, with gust magnitudes at both peaking at 67 mph. The final high wind gust was recorded at the Wendover Peak mesonet station at 9:30 PM MST with a gust of 61 mph. Several other mesonet stations observed high wind gusts within this period as well.

Wider weather episode

A progressive shortwave trough and a subsequent period of colder northwesterly flow brought accumulating snow and impacts to portions of Utah's mountains as well as in portions of the Salt Lake Valley. On the front side of this system, a period of strong winds were observed in several locations across western Utah, especially with and directly after frontal passage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1238237. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.