Winter Storm — Wasatch Mountains I80 North, Utah

1998-12-19 to 1998-12-21 · Wasatch Mountains I80 North, Utah

Wider weather episode

The leading edge of an arctic airmass brought heavy snow to much of Northern Utah late on the 19th into the 20th, with the heavy snow pushing into Southern Utah on the 21st. For awhile on the 20th, I-70 from Salina to Green River was closed due to heavy snow. Power outages were also noted in portions of South Jordan. Numerous traffic accidents with minor injuries were blamed on the slippery road conditions. The most serious accident occurred when a Utah Highway Patrol trooper was hit by a pickup truck on Interstate 80 while placing flares and cones around an accident scene. The trooper suffered a broken leg and wrist. Some of the heavier snowfall amounts over the period were 28-30 inches at Fremont Indian State Park, 29 inches at Elk Meadows, 23 inches in Kanosh, 22 inches in Duck Creek, 20 inches at Brian Head and 18 inches at Milford. Most valley locations received from 2-6 inches, with 6-12 inches common over many mountain locations.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5676004. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.