High Wind — Southwest Utah, Utah

2017-03-05 · Southwest Utah, Utah

Event narrative

Maximum recorded wind gusts included 70 mph at the Milford Municipal Airport/Ben and Judy Briscoe Field ASOS, 67 mph at the Cedar City Regional Airport ASOS, 65 mph at Enterprise, and 65 mph at Brimstone Reservoir. Tree and fence damage was reported at multiple locations, including Enoch, Fillmore, and Cedar City. In addition, the winds and low visibility due to blowing dust were both significant factors in multiple car accidents along State Route 21 near Milford, which was closed for a period of time between mileposts 78 and 90. The reduced visibility led to a three-vehicle pileup, involving a semitrailer, an SUV, and a pickup truck pulling a trailer, which resulted in several serious injuries. Another three-vehicle accident was caused by windblown debris in the middle of the roadway, also involving two passenger cars and a semitrailer, with injuries sustained in that accident as well. Also along this part of State Route 21, the roof of a barn was blown off and became caught in power lines, causing them to crash down to the ground.

Wider weather episode

A cold front moved through Utah on March 5, producing strong, and sometimes destructive, winds both ahead of and behind the front. The front also brought snowfall to the state, with the heaviest snow in northern Utah.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 688905. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.