Utah, 1996

High Wind in Utah, June 26, 1996

June 26, 1996 · NWS SLC · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A strong pressure gradient was over the entire state causing very windy conditions. Winds averaged 25-35 mph (22-30 kts) with gusts to 45 mph (39 kts) statewide.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS SLC wrote it up.

A strong pressure gradient was over the entire state causing very windy conditions. Winds averaged 25-35 mph (22-30 kts) with gusts to 45 mph (39 kts) statewide. There were numerous reports of minor tree damage and power lines down. Also, visibilities were reduced due to blowing sand and blowing ash from several ongoing wildfires. Several of the highest wind gusts were: Milford 80 mph (70 kts)...Badger Spring Raws in western Washington county 69 mph (60 kts)...Bountiful Bench 60 mph (52 kts)...and both Coalville and BYU in Provo 59 mph (51 kts).

Event by event

5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Salt Lake and Toole Valleys

When
June 26, 2:00 PM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Salt Lake and Toole Valleys forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)

High Wind, Wasatch Mountain Valleys/Huntsville/Park City/Heber

When
June 26, 2:00 PM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Wasatch Mountain Valleys/Huntsville/Park City/Heber forecast zone
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)

High Wind, Western Unita Mountains

When
June 26, 2:00 PM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Western Unita Mountains forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)

High Wind, Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs

When
June 26, 2:00 PM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)

High Wind, Western Unita Basin

When
June 26, 2:00 PM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Western Unita Basin forecast zone
Measured
53 kt (61 mph)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Utah in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, June 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5570118, 5570119, 5570120, 5570121, 5570122.