Winter Weather in Salt Lake Valley, Utah

A cold frontal passage followed by several hours of snow showers, including a corridor of lake enhanced snow with snowfall rates at times in excess of 1 inch per hour, brought significant winter weather impacts to portions of the Salt Lake valley. Accumulation amounts varied throughout the valley, with generally around 1 to 4 inches (closer to 6 inches on benches), with the higher totals noted at areas that sat beneath the lake enhanced snow showers. The combination of the snow on 2/18 and subsequent refreeze overnight into the morning of 2/19 resulted in hundreds of motor vehicle accidents, some of which included Utah Highway Patrol vehicles. No fatalities or major injuries were reported. Rocky Mountain Power reported power outages across the valley peaked at over 28,000 customers. The Center Weather Service Unit reported major impacts (quoted as likely a top 5 event) to operations at the Salt Lake City International Airport, including a ground delay from FAA command center, temporary runway closure due to snow, and around 38 to 42 flight diversions due to the combination of the snow and strong crosswinds.

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).