Winter Storm in Utah, March 7 to 8, 2002

Name: Winter Storm in Utah, March 7 to 8, 2002
Start: 2002-03-07T06:00
End: 2002-03-08T12:00
Location: Utah

March 7 to 8, 2002 · NWS SLC · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A ferocious cold front moved across Northern Utah with lightning, small hail and heavy snow. Very heavy snow along with strong winds made driving treacherous several hours after frontal passage.

The toll

Deaths: 2
Injuries: 50
Property damage: $200,000
Crop damage: None recorded
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 ferocious cold front moved across Northern Utah with lightning, small hail and heavy snow. Very heavy snow along with strong winds made driving treacherous several hours after frontal passage. Around 200 accidents occurred in the Salt Lake Valley on the 8th, with 2 weather-related traffic fatalities and about 50 injuries. Some of the snow totals in the mountains included 31 inches at Alta, 26 inches at Snowbird, 25 inches at Solitude, 15 inches at Trial Lake, and 12 inches at Sundance. Snowfall in the valleys and benches included 8 inches in Holladay and Olympus Cove, 7 inches in Sandy and Laketown, 6 inches in Centerville and Brigham City, and 5 inches at the Salt Lake City International Airport.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Salt Lake City, UT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 7, 3:02 AM MST, 2 hours 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 7, 3:02 AM MST, 2 hours 58 minutes before

UTAH AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
302 AM MST THU MAR 7 2002

.SYNOPSIS...A SERIES OF PACIFIC STORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA
THROUGH FRIDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL RETURN FOR SATURDAY. THE NEXT
STORM WILL APPROACH THE AREA LATE SUNDAY.

.DISCUSSION...SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVING ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THIS
MORNING. WAVE HAS PUSHED A FRONTAL BOUNDARY INTO NORTHERN UTAH WHICH
HAS JUST ABOUT STALLED OVER THE SOUTHERN GSL. AIRMASS DE-STABILIZING
WITH CONVECTION FILLING ACROSS NORTHERN UTAH AND LIGHTNING OBSERVED
LAST HOUR NEAR MT. NEBO. HEAVY PERIOD OF MOUNTAIN PRECIPITATION
BEGINNING WITH LOCAL HEAVY CONVECTIVE PRECIP FOR THE VALLEYS. ETA
HAS A GOOD TRACK RECORD THIS EVENING WITH SURFACE BOUNDARY AND
PRECIPITATION COVERAGE. WILL FOLLOW IT CLOSELY FOR SHORT TERM
FORECAST. MODEL SHOWS 500 MB TEMPERATURES COOLING THROUGH
18Z...WHICH CORRESPONDS TO HEAVIEST MODEL QPF THIS MORNING. THEN QPF
DECREASES DURING THE AFTERNOON AS FLOW BACKS AHEAD OF SHARP COLD
FRONT WHICH MOVES IN TONIGHT. FRONTAL PASSAGE TIMED FOR THE LATE
EVENING AROUND 1000 PM AT SLC. AIRMASS STABILIZES FRIDAY.

LONGER RANGE FORECAST STILL ON TRACK THIS MORNING WITH THE BEST
CHANCE OF SHOWERS MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

NO CHANGE TO THE WS WATCHES/WARNINGS THIS MORNING.

SLC 684 CDC 363  GIBSON

.SLC...HEAVY SNOW WARNING ALL NRN MTNS THRU MIDDAY FRI.
       WINTER STORM WATCH MOST NW VALLEYS THU NIGHT TIL MIDDAY FRI.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 7, 5:20 AM MST, 40 minutes before

UTZ002-UTZ003-UTZ004-UTZ006-UTZ007-UTZ008-080100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE
SALT LAKE CITY UTAH

HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER POTENTIAL FOR NORTHERN UTAH
517 AM MST THU MAR  7 2002

OVERVIEW:
MOIST AND UNSTABLE SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL DOMINATE THE AREA TODAY,
WITH MOUNTAIN SNOW AND VALLEY RAIN SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS, ESPECIALLY THIS MORNING. SOUTH WINDS WILL
STRENGTHEN AGAIN IN MOST AREAS THIS AFTERNOON. A STRONG COLD
FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA LATE THIS EVENING, BRINGING
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN, GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS, AND COLDER
TEMPERATURES. SNOW LEVELS WILL LOWER TO THE VALLEY FLOORS AS
THIS FRONT PASSES. WINDS AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL DECREASE AGAIN BY
MORNING.

...OGDEN CANYON/WEBER CANYON/TRAPPERS LOOP...

TODAY (6AM-6PM)

WEATHER:
OCCASIONAL SNOW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS, WITH 2-4
INCHES ACCUMULATION ALONG TRAPPERS LOOP AND THE TOP OF THE
CANYONS. SNOW MIXED WITH RAIN NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE CANYONS.

TEMPERATURES (F):              8AM         NOON        4PM
WEBER CANYON PARK AND RIDE      40           43         40
MOUNTAIN GREEN PARK AND RIDE    38           38         35

WIND:
WEST WINDS 5-15 MPH THIS MORNING, BECOMING SOUTHWEST 10-20 MPH
THIS AFTERNOON

COMMENTS:
NONE

TONIGHT (6PM-6AM)

WEATHER:
SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS BECOMING ALL SNOW BY LATE EVENING WITH
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF
4-6 INCHES ALONG TRAPPERS LOOP, WITH 2-4 INCHES POSSIBLE NEAR
THE MOUTH OF THE CANYONS.

TEMPERATURES (F):                OVERNIGHT MINIMUM
WEBER CANYON PARK AND RIDE               25
MOUNTAIN GREEN PARK AND RIDE             22

WIND:
SOUTHWEST 10-20 MPH THIS EVENING, SHIFTING TO NORTHWEST 10-20
MPH LATE EVENING, AND THEN DECREASING BY MORNING.

COMMENTS:
NONE

...I-80/MOUTH OF PARLEYS CANYON/PARLEYS SUMMIT/KIMBALL JUNCTION...

TODAY (6AM-6PM)

WEATHER:
OCCASIONAL SNOW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS, WITH 2-4
INCHES SNOW ACCUMULATION NEAR PARLEYS SUMMIT, 1-2 INCHES NEAR
KIMBALL JUNCTION, AND SNOW MIXED WITH RAIN AND NO ACCUMULATION
NEAR THE MOUTH OF PARLEYS CANYON.

TEMPERATURES (F):              8AM         NOON        4PM
MOUTH OF PARLEYS CANYON         43           44         43
PARLEYS SUMMIT                  34           34         32
KIMBALL JUNCTION                40           38         36

WIND:
WEST WINDS 5-15 MPH THIS MORNING, BECOMING SOUTHWEST 10-20 MPH
THIS AFTERNOON.

COMMENTS:
NONE

TONIGHT (6PM-6AM)

WEATHER:
SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS BECOMING ALL SNOW BY LATE EVENING WITH
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF
4-6 INCHES NEAR PARLEYS SUMMIT, 2-4 INCHES NEAR THE MOUTH OF
PARLEYS CANYON AND NEAR KIMBALL JUNCTION.

TEMPERATURES (F):                OVERNIGHT MINIMUM
MOUTH OF PARLEYS CANYON                  26
PARLEYS SUMMIT                           20
KIMBALL JUNCTION                        22

WIND:
SOUTHWEST 10-20 MPH THIS EVENING, SHIFTING TO NORTHWEST 10-20
MPH LATE EVENING, AND THEN DECREASING BY MORNING.

COMMENTS:
NONE

...PROVO CANYON TO HEBER...

TODAY (6AM-6PM)

WEATHER:
OCCASIONAL SNOW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS, WITH 1-2
INCHES SNOW ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE NEAR HEBER. MIXED RAIN AND
SNOW SHOWERS NEAR THE MOUTH OF PROVO CANYON.

TEMPERATURES (F):              8AM         NOON        4PM
MOUTH OF PROVO CANYON           40           45         44
HEBER                           38           38         35

WIND:
SOUTHWEST 15-25 MPH.

COMMENTS:
NONE

TONIGHT (6PM-6AM)

WEATHER:
SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS BECOMING ALL SNOW BY LATE EVENING WITH
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF
2-4 INCHES.

TEMPERATURES (F):               OVERNIGHT MINIMUM
MOUTH OF PROVO CANYON                    29
HEBER                                    23

WIND:
SOUTHWEST 15-25 MPH THIS EVENING, SHIFTING TO NORTHWEST 10-20 BY
MIDNIGHT, THEN DECREASING BY MORNING.

COMMENTS:
NONE

...SALT LAKE VALLEY...

TODAY (6AM-6PM)

WEATHER:
OCCASIONAL RAIN SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS, MAINLY THIS
MORNING.

TEMPERATURES (F):              8AM         NOON        4PM
DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY         45           47         45
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH              47           49         46

WIND:
SOUTH WINDS 15-25 MPH.

COMMENTS:
NONE

TONIGHT (6PM-6AM)

WEATHER:
A FEW RAIN SHOWERS EARLY THIS EVENING, CHANGING TO SNOW AND
INCREASING BY LATE EVENING WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN.
SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2-4 INCHES.

TEMPERATURES (F):                OVERNIGHT MINIMUM
DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY                  28
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH                       28

WIND:
SOUTH WINDS 15-25 MPH THIS EVENING, SHIFTING TO NORTHWEST 15-25
MPH BY LATE EVENING, THEN DECREASING BY MORNING.

COMMENTS:
NONE

...OGDEN/I-15 IN DAVIS-WEBER COUNTIES...

TODAY (6AM-6PM)

WEATHER:
OCCASIONAL RAIN SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS, MAINLY THIS
MORNING.

TEMPERATURES (F):              8AM         NOON        4PM
DOWNTOWN OGDEN                  42           46         42

WIND:
NORTH WINDS 5-10 MPH THIS MORNING, BECOMING SOUTH WINDS 10-20
MPH THIS AFTERNOON.

COMMENTS:
NONE

TONIGHT (6PM-6AM)

WEATHER:
A FEW RAIN SHOWERS EARLY THIS EVENING, CHANGING TO SNOW AND
INCREASING BY LATE EVENING WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN.
SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2-4 INCHES.

TEMPERATURES (F):                OVERNIGHT MINIMUM
DOWNTOWN OGDEN                           25

WIND:
SOUTH WIND 10-20 MPH THIS EVENING, SHIFTING TO NORTHWEST 10-20
MPH LATE EVENING, THEN DECREASING BY MORNING.

COMMENTS:
NONE

...UTAH COUNTY...

TODAY (6AM-6PM)

WEATHER:
OCCASIONAL RAIN SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS, MAINLY THIS
MORNING.

TEMPERATURES (F):              8AM         NOON        4PM
DOWNTOWN PROVO                  42           46         44

WIND:
SOUTH WINDS 15-25 MPH.

COMMENTS:
NONE

TONIGHT (6PM-6AM)

WEATHER:
A FEW RAIN SHOWERS EARLY THIS EVENING, CHANGING TO SNOW AND
INCREASING BY LATE EVENING WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN.
SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 1-3 INCHES.

TEMPERATURES (F):                OVERNIGHT MINIMUM
DOWNTOWN PROVO                           30

WIND:
SOUTH WINDS 15-25 MPH THIS EVENING, SHIFTING TO NORTH 15-25 MPH
BY LATE EVENING.

COMMENTS:
NONE

Event by event

6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Ne Box Elder T X Ne/W Weber/Davis

When: March 7, 6:00 AM MST to March 8, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Ne Box Elder T X Ne/W Weber/Davis forecast zone
Injuries: 10 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

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

When: March 7, 6:00 AM MST to March 8, 12:00 PM MST
Where: P Nc Weber/P C Morgan/P W C Summit/P Sc Wasatch forecast zone
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

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

When: March 7, 6:00 AM MST to March 8, 12:00 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
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

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

When: March 7, 6:00 AM MST to March 8, 12:00 PM MST
Where: W Salt Lake T X W/E Toole T X E forecast zone
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 35 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $140,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

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

When: March 7, 6:00 AM MST to March 8, 12:00 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
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

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

When: March 7, 6:00 AM MST to March 8, 12:00 PM MST
Where: W Utah T X Nw/P X E Juab forecast zone
Injuries: 5 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Winter Storm, W Salt Lake T X W/E Toole T X E	2002-03-08	44	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct
Winter Storm, W Salt Lake T X W/E Toole T X E	2002-03-08	66	Female	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct

What these are

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

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Utah in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Utah, March 2002

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: 5324333, 5324334, 5324335, 5324336, 5324337, 5324338.