A fast-moving storm system moved through Utah on December 16, bringing a shot of snow to northern Utah. This was quickly followed by a deeper and colder Pacific system on the 17th, which produced both gusty winds and heavy snowfall across much of the state.
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.
The episode as NWS SLC wrote it up.
A fast-moving storm system moved through Utah on December 16, bringing a shot of snow to northern Utah. This was quickly followed by a deeper and colder Pacific system on the 17th, which produced both gusty winds and heavy snowfall across much of the state.
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 Dec 15, 9:18 PM MST, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
918 PM MST SAT DEC 15 2012
.SYNOPSIS...A SERIES OF PACIFIC WEATHER DISTURBANCES WILL CROSS
MAINLY NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE REGION THROUGH MONDAY. A COLD
FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS UTAH ON TUESDAY. A COLD MOIST NORTHWEST
FLOW WILL FOLLOW THE FRONT THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
&&
.DISCUSSION...THE SPLIT UPPER TROF THAT BROUGHT THE WIDESPREAD
SNOW TO THE CWA IS JUST EXITING THIS EVE. THE COLDEST AIR AT 700
MB IS MOVING OVERHEAD AND HAS KEPT SOME LIGHT OROGRAPHIC SNOW
GOING OUT OF THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN PLACE UP AND DOWN THE I-15
CORRIDOR. THIS SHOULD END ACROSS THE SOUTH SHORTLY BUT WILL
PERSIST UP NORTH AS THE LIFT SWITCHES TO WARM ADVECTION LATER
TONIGHT AHEAD OF THE NEXT FAST MOVING LOW AMPLITUDE TROF DROPPING
OUT OF THE PACNW.
THIS WAVE PASSES SUN MORNING AND SHUTS OFF THE WARM ADVECTION BUT
SHOULD BRING A PERIOD OF FAIRLY WIDESPREAD LIGHT SNOW TO THE NWRN
ZONES AND HEAVIER SNOW THE NRN MTNS. WARM ADVECTION REDEVELOPS
LATE SUN AND BECOMES STRONG SUN NIGHT GENERATING ANOTHER ROUND OF
HEAVY PRECIP FOR THE FAR NORTH. WE GET INTO THE WARM SECTOR FOR A
TIME ON MON BEFORE THE THERMAL RIBBON TIGHTENS UP AND SLIDES BACK
SOUTH EARLY TUE AS A STRONG COLD FRONT WITH MORE HEAVY SNOW.
WINTER WEATHER WARNING ISSUED EARLIER STILL LOOKS ON TRACK FOR
THIS EXTENDED HEAVY PRECIP EVENT AND THE LATEST NAM HAS RAISED THE
STORM TOTAL QPF RAISING CONFIDENCE THAT IT WILL PAN OUT. SOME
FAIRLY LARGE TOTALS ARE LIKELY BY MIDDAY WED IF THIS EVOLVES AS
FORECAST.
THE SNOWFALL IN AREAS OUTSIDE THE WARNING MAY NEED ADVISORY
HIGHLIGHTS...POSSIBLY AS SOON AS SUN MORNING FOR THE CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN WASATCH FRONT BUT THESE CAN BE ISSUED WITH THE FIRST
PERIOD FORECASTS AS NEEDED DUE TO THE EXPECTED BREAKS IN THE
PRECIP.
VERY COLD AIR IS STILL FORECAST TO REACH THE NRN CWA BY WED
MORNING AND THERE REMAINS A POTENTIAL FOR LAKE EFFECT SNOWFALL...
BUT THERE IS STILL QUITE A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY ON WHERE THESE BANDS
WILL GO...LET ALONE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL EVEN DEVELOP.
UPDATED FORECASTS EARLIER TO INCREASE THE COVERAGE OF THE EVE
LIGHT SNOW OVER WRN UT AND RAISE POPS FOR THE NORTH AFTER
MIDNIGHT. NO ADDITIONAL UPDATES PLANNED AT THIS TIME.
&&
.AVIATION...OCCASIONAL SNOW SHOWERS SHOULD TAPER OFF BY 06Z.
CEILINGS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BETWEEN 4000 AND 5000 AGL FOR MOST
OF THE NIGHT. A PERIOD OF MVFR/IFR SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN
BETWEEN 10-12Z SUNDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH 17-19Z.
&&
.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM MST WEDNESDAY
FOR UTZ009-010.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM MST WEDNESDAY
FOR UTZ007-008.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM MST WEDNESDAY
FOR UTZ006.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM MST WEDNESDAY
FOR UTZ001-002-005.
WY...NONE.
&&
WILENSKY/KRUSE
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 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT 433 PM MST SAT DEC 15 2012 UTZ001>016-019>021-517-518-WYZ021-161300- 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- 433 PM MST SAT DEC 15 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT AREAS OF LIGHT SNOW OR SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA LATE IN THE AFTERNOON WILL TAPER OFF BY MID EVENING. SNOW WILL PICK UP AGAIN ACROSS THE NORTHERN OUTLOOK AREA AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT WITH SOME ACCUMULATION BY MORNING ALONG THE WASATCH FRONT AND IN THE ADJACENT MOUNTAINS AND MOUNTAIN VALLEYS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE NORTHERN OUTLOOK AREA AT TIMES SUNDAY RIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. SOME BREAKS IN THE SNOW WILL OCCUR DURING THIS TIME BUT SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS AND PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN VALLEYS. HEAVY ACCUMULATION IS FORECAST FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND FAR NORTHERN VALLEYS. LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE SOUTHEAST OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE EARLY WEDNESDAY. THE ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL SPREAD SOUTH ACROSS MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF THE OUTLOOK AREA TUESDAY INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY THEN TAPER OFF. .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) FOR INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL TRAVEL IMPACTS VISIT... HTTP://WWW.UDOTTRAFFIC.UTAH.GOV/ROADWEATHERFORECAST.ASPX
13 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm total snowfall across the Wasastch Mountains south of Interstate 80 included 56 inches at Brighton Resort, 40 inches of snow at Alta Ski Lifts, and 26 inches of snow at Solitude Mountain Resort.
The Wasatch Mountains north of Interstate 80 experienced both heavy snow and strong winds with this event. The Tony Grove Lake SNOTEL received 1.90 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation, or approximately 25 inches of new snow. A storm total of 15 inches of new snow was also reported in the mountains west of Laketown. Peak wind gusts across the area included 95 mph at Ogden Peak and 83 mph at the Red Spur RAWS.
The Trial Lake SNOTEL received 1.50 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation, or approximately 22 inches of new snow.
The Clear Creek #1 SNOTEL received a storm total of 1.60 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation, or approximately 23 inches of new snow.
Heavy snow and strong winds both accompanied the storm in the Great Salt Lake Desert and Mountains. Snowville reported 6 inches of new snow, and peak wind gusts included 62 mph at the Utah Test and Training Range Thermal Treatment Unit sensor, 61 mph at Lakeside Mountain, and 59 mph at Hat Island.
The Dill's Camp SNOTEL received 2.00 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation, or approximately 25 inches of new snow.
The Kimberly Mine SNOTEL received 1.50 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation, or approximately 20 inches of new snow.
The cold front on the 17th of December intensified as it moved into central Utah, bringing heavy snowfall to the southern Wasatch Front after it had bypassed the northern Wasatch Front. Storm total snowfall from this area included 13 inches in Woodland Hills, 11 inches in Mapleton, and 10 inches in Springville.
Storm total snow reports included 7 inches of snow at Eureka, and 6 inches of new snow at both Delta and Oak City.
Wellington received 9 inches of snow from this event, while Ferron received 6 inches of snow.
Richfield received 8 inches of new snow, while Ephraim and Gunnison both reported 6 inches of new snow.
The Hans Flat Ranger Station reported 8 inches of new snow for the storm.
Cedar City received 9 inches of snow for the storm.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Utah in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, December 2012
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: 424136, 424134, 424139, 424142, 424132, 424151, 424152, 424144, 424149, 424126, 424148, 424128, 424150.