Damaging Winds in Utah, May 31, 1994

A large thunderstorm complex developed near the center of an upper level disturbance and moved rapidly from southwest to northeast across northern Utah. The first significant damage occurred in the Sugarville as three trees were blown ito a house. Four-foot diameter trees were uprooted in the area. Next a grain elevator was blown down in Elberta. At 1140MST, the Tooele Army Depot (north base) reported 20 to 30 car windows blown out, empty storage containers the size of tractor semi-trailer were blown off railroad flat cars, and damage to many structures. Clean up and repair costs estimated at $150,000. About 1145MST, a chicken farm in Lakeshore suffered structural damage estimated at $400,000. At 1153MST, an anemometer on the twelfth story of Brigham Young University in Provo measured a gust at 121 mph. The BYU campus alone incurred $1 million in damage. The city of Provo was hard hit, with $ 8 million in damage to public and private property. Damage included power outages to 90 per cent of the city. Between three thousand and five thousand trees were destroyed, being blown into cars, powers lines, and houses. Nineteen homes had "significant damage", with two being condemned. Of the fifteen injuries, most were broken bones and lacerations, while a fifteen year old girl went into intensive care when an air conditioner fell on her. At 1236MST, the Salt Lake International Airport measured a peak gust at 62 mph. One DC-3 airplane was pushed a quarter mile down the tarmac and clipped two planes. Nine other planes sustained damage, with a total plane damage estimate at $1 million. At 1238MST, a measured gust at 81 mph took part of the roof off the SaltAir Pavilion, with damage estimated at $270,000. Between 1215MST and 1315MST, over 50 incidents of downed power lines were reported in the Salt Lake valley, with 20 power poles on fire.