Winter Storm and High Wind in Utah, October 10 to 11, 1997

Name: Winter Storm and High Wind in Utah, October 10 to 11, 1997
Start: 1997-10-10T04:00
End: 1997-10-11T15:00
Location: Utah

October 10 to 11, 1997 · NWS SLC · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

An early season winter storm system moved through Utah. The strong cold front swept through the state on the 10th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 3
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

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.

An early season winter storm system moved through Utah. The strong cold front swept through the state on the 10th. Widespread heavy rain and snow, as well as gusty northwest winds developed. At around 0800 MST a 303-foot radio tower operated by KNEU-AM 1250 in Ballard fell due to high winds. The winds snapped 2 support wires undermining the tower's base. Winds were estimated to be in excess of 70 mph (61 kts). The station was off the air for about 2 weeks. On the 11th scattered heavy snow showers continued to develop in the unseasonably cold airmass that moved over the state. Lake-enhanced snow bands occurred to the southeast of the Great Salt Lake. Some of the higher storm snow amounts included: the Alta Ski Resort with 23", Herriman 12", Snyderville 8", Kearns 6", the southern Wasatch Front benches 4", Duck Creek Village 5" and 12" about 6 miles east of Cove Fort.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 winter storm, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, C E Summit/X Ne Wasatch/N Duchesne

When: October 10, 4:00 AM MST to October 11, 3:00 PM MST
Where: C E Summit/X Ne Wasatch/N Duchesne forecast zone
Injuries: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $20,000

Winter Storm, E Wasatch T X Ne/S Wc Duchesne/X Ne San Pete/Carbon T Sc/P X Ne X Nw Emery

When: October 10, 4:00 AM MST to October 11, 3:00 PM MST
Where: E Wasatch T X Ne/S Wc Duchesne/X Ne San Pete/Carbon T Sc/P X Ne X Nw Emery forecast zone

Winter Storm, P Nc Weber/P C Morgan/P W C Summit/P Sc Wasatch

When: October 10, 4:00 AM MST to October 11, 3:00 PM MST
Where: P Nc Weber/P C Morgan/P W C Summit/P Sc Wasatch forecast zone

Winter Storm, Rich/Cache T Nw/P E C Weber/Most of Morgan/Nw Summit/Ne Salt Lake/X Ne Box Elder

When: October 10, 4:00 AM MST to October 11, 3:00 PM MST
Where: Rich/Cache T Nw/P E C Weber/Most of Morgan/Nw Summit/Ne Salt Lake/X Ne Box Elder forecast zone

Winter Storm, W Salt Lake T X W/E Toole T X E

When: October 10, 4:00 AM MST to October 11, 3:00 PM MST
Where: W Salt Lake T X W/E Toole T X E forecast zone

Winter Storm, W Summit T Nw/Se Salt Lake/Wasatch X Sc/E Utah/P X E Juab/X Nw San Pete

When: October 10, 4:00 AM MST to October 11, 3:00 PM MST
Where: W Summit T Nw/Se Salt Lake/Wasatch X Sc/E Utah/P X E Juab/X Nw San Pete forecast zone

Winter Storm, W Utah T X Nw/P X E Juab

When: October 10, 4:00 AM MST to October 11, 3:00 PM MST
Where: W Utah T X Nw/P X E Juab forecast zone

Winter Storm, X Nw Kane/Xs Xe Iron/N W Washington/Nw Wc Garfield/Piute/W Wayne/Sevier T C/X E Millard/S Sanpete T Sc/X Se Juab/P X Nw Emery/X E Beaver

When: October 10, 4:00 AM MST to October 11, 3:00 PM MST
Where: X Nw Kane/Xs Xe Iron/N W Washington/Nw Wc Garfield/Piute/W Wayne/Sevier T C/X E Millard/S Sanpete T Sc/X Se Juab/P X Nw Emery/X E Beaver forecast zone

High Wind, C Uintah

When: October 10, 7:50 AM MST to 8:10 AM MST
Where: C Uintah forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Coordinates: 40.125, -109.518 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
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

Every storm in Utah in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Utah, October 1997

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: 5623834, 5623835, 5623836, 5623837, 5623838, 5623839, 5623840, 5623841, 5623842.