Utah, 1998

High Wind in Utah, May 26, 1998

May 26, 1998 · NWS SLC · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

High south winds occurred across western Utah out ahead of an approaching cold front. A gust to 84 mph (73kts) occurred at the Signal Peak RAWS (Sevier county mountains) and a gust to 68 mph (59 kts) was measured by a spotter in Pinto Junction.

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
0
Property damage
$4,000
Crop damage
$7,000
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.

High south winds occurred across western Utah out ahead of an approaching cold front. A gust to 84 mph (73kts) occurred at the Signal Peak RAWS (Sevier county mountains) and a gust to 68 mph (59 kts) was measured by a spotter in Pinto Junction. These were the highest reported winds.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Great Salt Lake Desert and Mountains/Wendover/Snowville

When
May 26, 10:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where
Great Salt Lake Desert and Mountains/Wendover/Snowville forecast zone
Measured
73 kt (84 mph)
Property damage
$1,000
Crop damage
$4,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Southwest Utah/Cedar City/Milford

When
May 26, 10:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where
Southwest Utah/Cedar City/Milford forecast zone
Measured
59 kt (68 mph)
Property damage
$2,000
Crop damage
$2,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, South Central Utah/Kanab/Escalante

When
May 26, 10:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where
South Central Utah/Kanab/Escalante forecast zone
Property damage
$500
Crop damage
$200
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Tavaputs Plateau

When
May 26, 10:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where
Tavaputs Plateau forecast zone
Property damage
$200
Crop damage
$100
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.554, -109.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Central and Southwest Mountains

When
May 26, 10:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where
Central and Southwest Mountains forecast zone
Property damage
$500
Crop damage
$700
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, May 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: 5665274, 5665275, 5665276, 5665277, 5665278.