Winter Storm and High Wind in Utah, April 7 to 10, 2011

Name: Winter Storm and High Wind in Utah, April 7 to 10, 2011
Start: 2011-04-07T05:00
End: 2011-04-10T18:00
Location: Utah

April 7 to 10, 2011 · NWS SLC · 12 events in 11 counties and zones

A strong Pacific storm system moved into the Great Basin on April 7th, bringing strong southwesterly winds to southern and central Utah. As the storm moved through Utah, it produced heavy snowfall in both the mountains and valleys across the state.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

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.

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 Apr 7, 4:36 AM MST, 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 7, 4:36 AM MST, 24 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
536 AM MDT THU APR 7 2011

.SYNOPSIS...A COLD PACIFIC STORM WILL IMPACT THE REGION TODAY
THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

&&

.DISCUSSION...COLD UPPER TROF CONTINUES TO DIG SOUTH ALONG THE
WEST COAST EARLY THIS MORNING WITH INCREASING SOUTHERLY FLOW
ACROSS UT. THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT IS CURRENTLY STALLED ALONG A
LINE FROM NW UT WEST OF THE LAKE TO NEAR DEATH VALLEY CA. THE
FRONT SHOULD EDGE EASTWARD LATER THIS MORNING AS THE WEST COAST
TROF STARTS TO CLOSE OFF AND SLIDE INLAND. THE FRONT IS FORECAST
TO STALL AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON WITH A BAND OF HEAVY PRECIP ALONG
AND NORTH OF IT ACROSS NWRN UT.

THIS ALSO ALLOWS THE INCREASING SWLY FLOW ALOFT TO SURFACE ACROSS
THE SWRN UT VALLEYS AND HAVE GONE WITH A HIGH WIND WARNING FOR
THESE ZONES. THE WINDS WILL ALSO BE STRONG ACROSS THE FAR SOUTH
AND EAST BUT NOT QUITE AS STRONG AS IN THE SW...SO HAVE OPTED
FOR AN ADVISORY FOR THESE AREAS.

PRECIP BEGINS TO DEVELOP SWD THIS AFTN BUT DOES NOT BECOME
WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE SW UNTIL THE FRONT STARTS MOVING AGAIN AND
CROSSES SWRN UT THIS EVE. THIS SHOULD BRING HEAVY PRECIP TO
UPSLOPE AREAS OF SRN UT WITH SNOW LEVELS LOWERING TO AROUND 4000
FT OR LOCALLY LOWER DURING THE DAY FRI. THE HEAVY UPSLOPE
COMPONENT CONTINUES THRU FRI NIGHT BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO
DEFORMATION AS THE LOW TRACKS INTO WRN AZ ON SAT...AND PERSISTS
INTO SAT NIGHT BEFORE FINALLY WINDING DOWN. HAVE OPTED FOR A
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE SRN MTNS DUE TO THE EXPECTED HEAVY
SNOW AMOUNTS PLUS THE STRONG WINDS TODAY INTO TONIGHT.

HAVE ISSUED SNOW ADVISORIES FOR ALL OTHER MTN ZONES WITH THE NORTH
STARTING TODAY AND THE CENTRAL MTNS/WASATCH PLATEAU TONIGHT.

THE SYSTEM APPEARS THAT IT FINALLY MOVES EAST BY 12Z SUN AND HAVE
ENDED ALL WINTER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS AS OF 10Z. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
A MOIST NORTHWEST FLOW COULD KEEP SNOW GOING LOCALLY IN THE NRN
MTNS SUN.

RIDGING LATER SUN SHIFTS EAST MON AS THE NEXT PAC TROF APPROACHES.
THIS APPEARS TO BE A LOWER AMPLITUDE SYSTEM BUT IS ALSO FAIRLY
COLD WITH THE FRONT FORECAST FOR MON NIGHT/TUE.

&&

.AVIATION...STOUT SOUTHERLY WINDS CURRENTLY IN PLACE AT THE KSLC
TERMINAL WILL SWITCH TO THE NORTHWEST WITH PASSAGE OF COLD FRONT
LATER THIS MORNING. TIMING OF PASSAGE IS A CHALLENGE AS THE FRONT IS
STALLED ACROSS THE LAKE...BUT MOST LIKELY SHOULD FALL IN THE 15-17Z
TIMEFRAME. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE EXISTS IT WILL OCCUR AFTER 17Z.
BEHIND THE FRONT RAIN WILL INCREASE WITH CIGS FALLING TO MVFR LEVELS.

&&

.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...WIND ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
     UTZ013-014-020-021-517.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM MDT SUNDAY FOR UTZ007>009.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM MDT
     SUNDAY FOR UTZ010-517.

     HIGH WIND WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
     UTZ015-016-019.

     WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 4 AM MDT SUNDAY FOR
     UTZ518.

WY...NONE.
&&

WILENSKY/MERRILL

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SALTLAKECITY (ALL LOWER CASE)

FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SALTLAKECITY/GENERAL/AFD_FAQS.PHP (ALL LOWER CASE)

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 6, 2:25 PM MST, 14 hours 35 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
325 PM MDT WED APR 6 2011

UTZ001>016-019>021-517-518-WYZ021-071200-
CACHE VALLEY/UTAH PORTION-NORTHERN WASATCH FRONT-
SALT LAKE AND TOOELE VALLEYS-SOUTHERN WASATCH FRONT-
GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT AND MOUNTAINS-WASATCH MOUNTAIN VALLEYS-
WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH-WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80-
WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS-WASATCH PLATEAU/BOOK CLIFFS-
WESTERN UINTA BASIN-CASTLE COUNTRY-SAN RAFAEL SWELL-
SANPETE/SEVIER VALLEYS-WEST CENTRAL UTAH-SOUTHWEST UTAH-
UTAHS DIXIE AND ZION NATIONAL PARK-SOUTH CENTRAL UTAH-
GLEN CANYON RECREATION AREA/LAKE POWELL-CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST WYOMING-
325 PM MDT WED APR 6 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF
UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS PORTIONS OF
SOUTHEASTERN UTAH THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AND CONTINUE INTO THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS.

SHOWERS WILL RETURN TO FAR NORTHWESTERN UTAH TONIGHT AHEAD OF THE
NEXT PACIFIC SYSTEM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH A POTENT
PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING
THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION OF SNOW IS
POSSIBLE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS...WITH RAIN AND SNOW IN THE VALLEYS.
SEE THE CURRENT SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
THIS UPCOMING SYSTEM.

STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN AND
EASTERN UTAH THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING AHEAD OF THE MAIN
SYSTEM. SEE THE MOST UPDATED HIGH WIND STATEMENTS FOR MORE
INFORMATION.

THE NEXT STORM IS EXPECTED MAINLY NORTHERN UTAH MONDAY WITH
ANOTHER ROUND OF PRECIPITATION AND UNSEASONABLY COOL TEMPERATURES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SALTLAKECITY (ALL LOWER CASE)

Event by event

9 winter storm, 3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Great Salt Lake Desert and Mountains

When: April 7, 5:00 AM MST to April 8, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Great Salt Lake Desert and Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Ibapah reported 10 inches of new snow.

Winter Storm, Western Uinta Mountains

When: April 7, 9:00 AM MST to April 10, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Western Uinta Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Chepeta SNOTEL received 4.10 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation, or approximately 45 inches of new snow for the three-day event.

Winter Storm, Southern Mountains

When: April 7, 10:00 AM MST to April 10, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Southern Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Kolob SNOTEL received 4.20 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation, or approximately 42 inches of new snow for the event.

Winter Storm, Wasatch Mountains I-80 North

When: April 7, 11:00 AM MST to April 10, 7:00 AM MST
Where: Wasatch Mountains I-80 North forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Farmington SNOTEL received 3.50 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation, or approximately 40 inches of new snow. In addition, Snowbasin Resort received 28 inches of snow for the storm. Winds were also strong early in the storm, with Otter Creek RAWS recording a maximum wind gust of 76 mph.

Winter Storm, Central Mountains

When: April 7, 12:00 PM MST to April 10, 1:00 PM MST
Where: Central Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Pine Creek SNOTEL received 2.30 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation, or approximately 28 inches of new snow. In addition, the Signal Peak RAWS recorded a maximum wind gust of 76 mph during the storm.

Winter Storm, Wasatch Mountains South of I-80

When: April 7, 2:00 PM MST to April 10, 6:00 PM MST
Where: Wasatch Mountains South of I-80 forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm total snowfall included 43 inches at Alta Ski Lifts, 34 inches at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, and 31 inches at Brighton Resort.

High Wind, Utahs Dixie and Zion National Park

When: April 7, 2:55 PM MST to 4:35 PM MST
Where: Utahs Dixie and Zion National Park forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: AWOS

The St. George Municipal Airport AWOS recorded more than an hour of sustained winds greater than 40 mph, with gusts generally in the 50 to 55 mph range. During this period of time, the airport often had visibilities of 0.25 miles or less due to significant amounts of blowing dust.

High Wind, Southwest Utah

When: April 7, 2:59 PM MST to 6:03 PM MST
Where: Southwest Utah forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS

The Milford ASOS and Enterprise RAWS both recorded maximum wind gusts of 59 mph. In addition, the AWOS in Fillmore reported multiple hours of sustained winds 40 mph or greater.

Winter Storm, Northern Wasatch Front

When: April 7, 3:00 PM MST to April 10, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Northern Wasatch Front forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee

Storm totals across the northern Wasatch Front included 19 inches of snow at Bountiful Bench, 13 inches in South Ogden, and 10 inches in Farmington.

High Wind, West Central Utah

When: April 7, 3:55 PM MST to 10:00 PM MST
Where: West Central Utah forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

The U.S. 6 at Eureka sensor recorded a maximum wind gust of 59 mph. In addition, the observer at Delta reported sustained winds of 40 mph for two straight hours, with gusts in the 50 to 55 mph range.

Winter Storm, Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs

When: April 7, 4:00 PM MST to April 10, 5:00 PM MST
Where: Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Clear Creek #1 SNOTEL received 2.10 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation, or approximately 25 inches of snow for the storm.

Winter Storm, Southwest Utah

When: April 7, 10:00 PM MST to April 10, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Southwest Utah forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

New Harmony received a storm total of 10 inches of new snow.

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 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Utah, April 2011

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: 301694, 301739, 301733, 301736, 301741, 301738, 301726, 301724, 301706, 301719, 301740, 301710.