Utah, 1998

Hail and Damaging Winds in Utah, August 26, 1998

August 26, 1998 · NWS SLC · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A severe thunderstorm outbreak left damage in its wake across northern Utah. Large hail, microburst winds and heavy rain were reported in several counties.

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
1
Property damage
$810,000
Crop damage
$222,000
Events
6

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 severe thunderstorm outbreak left damage in its wake across northern Utah. Large hail, microburst winds and heavy rain were reported in several counties. The largest hail of 1 1/4" fell in Alpine. A microburst wind to 70 mph (61kts) was measured in Kaysville. Lightning sparked a house fire in Holladay. A separate bolt injured a boy in Salt Lake City. Heavy rains caused basement flooding in Davis county and caused 9 mud slides in American Fork Canyon. Widespread damage occurred to roofs, power poles, and trees. 2 planes were flipped over at the Ogden Municipal Airport. A barn was toppled in West Haven as well.

The radar

The Salt Lake City radar (KMTX), 127 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:11 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Tooele

When
August 26, 1:10 PM MST
Where
Tooele County, (Dpg)michael Aaf Dug
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
40.180, -112.930

Hail, Box Elder

When
August 26, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Box Elder County, 14 mi W of Thatcher
Measured
0.75 in hail
Crop damage
$2,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.700, -112.570

Lightning, Salt Lake

When
August 26, 3:00 PM MST to 3:30 PM MST
Where
Salt Lake County, Holladay
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
40.668, -111.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Utah

When
August 26, 3:27 PM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Where
Utah County, American Fork to Alpine
Measured
1.25 in hail
Property damage
$300,000
Crop damage
$100,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.380, -111.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Weber

When
August 26, 3:50 PM MST
Where
Weber County, Ogden
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$100,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.220, -111.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Davis

When
August 26, 3:55 PM MST
Where
Davis County, Kaysville
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage
$400,000
Crop damage
$100,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.030, -111.950

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Utah in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, August 1998

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: 5663900, 5663901, 5663903, 5663904, 5663906, 5663905.