Ice Storm — Southern Wasatch Front, Utah

2013-01-24 · Southern Wasatch Front, Utah

Event narrative

The freezing rain was less significant in the Utah Valley than further northward, but still caused travel difficulties. The slick roads were blamed for 90 accidents in the area, two of which caused injuries. In addition, a highway patrol trooper was injured when an out-of-control car struck a cruiser, which was parked while the officer was assisting another vehicle that had slid off the road in Springville. Injuries were also common from people slipping on the ice while walking. Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo reported 70 ice-related injuries, including one death attributed to the icy conditions.

Wider weather episode

A rare freezing rain event occurred in Utah on January 24. Very cold air was trapped in valley locations due to a persistent inversion; when a weather disturbance brought precipitation to the area, and the system was too weak to break the inversion, freezing rain occurred at the surface, bringing widespread travel difficulties.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 429887. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.