Winter Storm in Southwest Utah, Utah

A combination of report sources indicated widespread snow amounts of 3 to 7 inches across many portions of the zone. Strong winds widespread in excess of 40 mph (peak gust of 75 mph at 9:00 AM at Cedar City Municipal Airport) combined with periods of very heavy snow resulted in snow squall conditions with visibility in some areas reduced to less than one quarter of a mile. Numerous accidents and slide-offs were reported, especially along higher sections of I-15.

A strong and moist trough pushed inland during the middle portion of February, leading to several days of impactful weather. Strong southwesterly flow on the leading edge of the trough resulted in many instances of strong winds and gusts, and moisture was sufficient to begin producing mountain snow more or less throughout the state. The deep nature of the trough then contained sufficient cold air to drop snow levels following a cold frontal passage, bringing snow to many valley floors, areas of scattered snow squalls, and a period of intense snowfall rates to some of the northern mountains. The snowfall resulted in numerous vehicle accidents, road and canyon closures, and avalanches (of which a fatality was reported).