Strong Wind — Salt Lake Valley, Utah

2025-10-11 · Salt Lake Valley, Utah

Event narrative

The Redwest Music Festival, being held at the Utah State Fairpark, was paused and crowds were evacuated preemptively around 5 p.m. Saturday due to a cold front approaching the area. It is estimated that 60,000 people attended each day of the three day event. The cold front brought wind gusts from 35-50 mph at the nearest sensors starting around 5:15 p.m. Wind gusts in that range continued through around 7 p.m. Following the cold front, thunderstorms tracked into the area, bringing lightning and moderate to heavy rain. Thunderstorms diminished around 8 p.m. with rain through around 9:30 p.m. The event was called off around 9:30 p.m. due to unsafe conditions. The event remain paused with the fairpark evacuated through then. News reports say that a woman was taking shelter in a vehicle parked near the fairpark at 1055 W. North Temple St. Some reports say she was in the vehicle and had exited, while others say she had evacuated the festival and was standing outside the vehicle. A large plank from scaffolding of a nearby construction site was blown off, striking the woman and the vehicle. The woman died from the injuries.

Wider weather episode

There were strong winds throughout northern Utah followed by rain and lightning for some places.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1292926. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.