High Wind in Utah, April 22 to 23, 1999

An upper-level low centered over Southern Utah (easterly flow aloft), combined with surface pressure gradient over the north (strong surface high pressure over Southwest Wyoming), produced a major east (downslope) wind event along the Northern Wasatch Front from the late evening hours of the 22nd through the morning of the 23rd. In what was the strongest wind event here in over 15 years, wind gusts in excess of 100 mph were clocked in several locations in Weber and Box Elder counties, with Davis and Northern Salt Lake counties also receiving significant wind gusts. A new Utah state record was set on the 23rd at around 1:00 AM for a gust at a valley location. A wind gust of 113 mph was recorded at the Brigham City Airport to establish that new record. The old record was 104 mph at Hill AFB on April 4, 1983. The winds toppled planes and damaged hangers at the Brigham City Airport, causing an estimated 750,000 dollars damage. The most damage was to homes along the Northern Wasatch Front, with hundreds of houses and some businesses losing shingles, fences, trees, siding, and in some cases roofs. Estimated damage to the homes and properties was 9.6 million dollars. The ferocious winds also toppled 20 semi-tractor trailers on I-15 between Brigham City and Centerville, twisted a large construction crane and toppled the attached 500 pound ball onto the Municipal Building in Ogden, blew out windows and toppled trees at Weber State University, snapped power poles and knocked out power to 10,000 people, and shut down I-15 and US89 from Brigham City to Centerville. Amazingly, no serious injuries were reported during this major wind event. Beside the 113 mph wind gust at Brigham City, other gusts included 110 mph at Weber State, 102 mph at the Brigham City AWOS, 101 mph at Taylor Canyon in East Ogden, 87 mph in Centerville, 74 mph in North Salt Lake, and 66 mph at Hill AFB.