Wind gusts exceeded 50 mph over much of Utah, with gusts peaking at over 100 mph over some mountain locations, as a winter storm tracked into the Plains.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
Wind gusts exceeded 50 mph over much of Utah, with gusts peaking at over 100 mph over some mountain locations, as a winter storm tracked into the Plains.
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 21, 10:44 AM MST, 4 hours 16 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1044 AM MST Wed Dec 21 2022
.UPDATE...CAMS/High Res guidance and even global models continue
to support a high end downslope wind event for Castle Country from
roughly SR-10 and west, with maximum gusts topping out at 80 mph
(potentially higher). Updated the forecast to increase winds
through much of northern Utah to better match current trends as
well as updated the High Wind Warning to show a higher end threat.
Those with interests in these areas including the towns of Ferron,
Orangeville, Castle Dale should rush to secure any outdoor items
to reduce the threat of property damage and prepare for potential
power outages given the cold temperatures building into the
region.
Made additional minor updates to temperatures, snow levels and
snow amounts. Previous discussions follow.
&&
.SYNOPSIS...A very cold system will bring unusually cold
temperatures, strong winds and snow to portions of northern and
central Utah through Thursday. Another weak system will impact the
area Friday.
&&
.SHORT TERM (THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY)...The flow aloft has shifted more
northwesterly this morning owing to upstream amplification of the
ridge across the eastern Pacific. This is sending a shortwave trough
from western Canada into the northern Rockies. This trough will
continue diving southeast towards the Great Plains into tomorrow. A
very cold airmass is associated with this trough. However, latest
model runs have shifted the upper jet and coldest air a slight bit
farther east. Nonetheless, this storm will still bring cold
temperatures, strong winds, and snow to the area.
Spotty precipitation is already noted on radar imagery spreading
into northern Utah this morning. This is expected to fill in more
during the afternoon hours, bringing snow mainly to the northern
Utah mountains along with valleys, especially those closer to the
Idaho border. Meanwhile, winds will increase through the day, with
H7 flow reaching between 40-60kt across northern Utah and southwest
Wyoming. Meanwhile, a deepening surface low across west-central
Wyoming today will strengthen a south to southwesterly pressure
gradient across northern Utah. This gradient will result in
increasing surface winds which will aid mixing, weakening valley
inversions and allowing for warmer temperatures in many northern
valleys today.
With the snow and winds both increasing through the day, not only
will the mountains see moderately significant snow totals, but
blowing and drifting snow and low visibilities will be common on
exposed ridgelines. Blowing and drifting snow is also expected in
southwest Wyoming where widespread gusts over 50 mph will be likely
this afternoon. With northern Utah being on the western periphery of
the trough, valley snow amounts are not expected to be particularly
large, but the threat of accumulating snow during the evening
commute throughout the northern Wasatch Front and Salt Lake/Tooele
Valleys as the cold front moves through could lead to travel
impacts. While Utah County will also see accumulating snow, much of
it will likely occur after peak commute times.
Snow will wind down quickly from north to south behind the cold
front this evening, and very little in the way of snow is expected
in the southern half of Utah (and nothing in the southern third), as
the surface cold front outruns any upper support. Despite the snow
ending tonight, strong winds will continue, especially along exposed
ridgelines and eastern valleys immediately to the lee of the
terrain. Colder air settling in overnight will combine with
lingering winds to bring very cold wind chills to portions of
northern Utah and southwest Wyoming. With models trending
temperatures a slight bit warmer, this threat may not end up being
as widespread, but will be present nonetheless. Afternoon maxes
tomorrow will be much colder compared to today across the north,
ranging from -10 to -20 below normals.
As far as headlines, the only change made this shift was to replace
the High Wind Watch with an Advisory for the western Uinta Basin and
a Warning for Castle Country. Castle Country is more favorable for
strong winds owing to a northwesterly alignment of H7 winds and
surface pressure gradient, 50+kt flow near ridgelines and developing
stable layer, whereas in the western Uinta Basin, the gradient looks
to end up more northerly.
.LONG TERM (After 12Z/6AM Friday)...A couple of trailing shortwave
troughs will bring a chance of snow to mainly northern Utah on
Friday and into the weekend. Lingering moisture will also result in
increased cloud cover during the weekend across northern and central
Utah. The first wave will pass with most of its energy to our south,
though some filaments of vorticity will pass across northern/central
Utah on Friday. There is some uncertainty with how far south this
feature and associated precipitation reaches. EC ensemble members
favor a track further south, which would greatly limit precipitation
across northern Utah, especially in valleys. GEFS members favor a
more northern track, favoring more northern UT precipitation. In
either case, this feature isn't super strong, and will therefore
limit snowfall in even mountain locations to a few inches.
The second trailing shortwave is more likely to impact northern
Utah, though its timing still has plenty of uncertainty. This
feature, however, is expected to be even less dynamic than the
first, and will therefore only bring a small chance for minimal QPF
to the northern mountains on late Saturday and/or early Sunday.
Aside from the shortwaves, a ridge will begin to build over the west
coast over the weekend with great agreement among models. This will
result in warming temperatures from our coldest on Thursday morning
as the ridge continues to build through the weekend. H7 temperatures
are expected to peak on Monday, with a grand ensemble mean of 2C
over KSLC. Uncertainty mainly lies in the amplitude of this ridge,
which would therefore impact how much temperatures warm by Monday.
While Monday is expected to be dry, it is looking more likely that
on Tuesday we could see another impactful storm system moving in,
though keep in mind that Tuesday is still a week away. All ensemble
members at least show that there is an upper-level trough with
northeast Pacific origins that progresses to the CONUS and pushes
the ridge out of the way. By 00z Wednesday, only 12% of ensemble
members still favor a weak ridge, while the others favor more zonal
mid-level flow. Two-thirds of members favor a broad stroke of 0.1-
0.25" QPF across central and northern Utah, likely due to abundant
moisture pushing inland.
&&
.AVIATION...KSLC...Southerly flow will increase through the morning,
with a 75% likelihood of becoming a gusty, westerly crosswind
between 21-00z. Between 00-01z, expect a transition to gusty
northerly flow up to 26kts with a cold front. Additionally, IFR VIS
from snowfall with CIGs at or below 2000ft is likely along the
front, lasting for 1-2 hours. Mountain obscuration will occur
through roughly 05-06z, when skies are expected to largely clear.
.REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...Westerly flow will increase
across northern and central Utah ahead of a cold front on Wednesday
morning/mid-day. The highest winds are expected across Uinta Co.,
Wyoming, with gusts up to 45mph possible. This cold front will bring
gusty northerly flow and potentially periods of heavy snowfall and
IFR VIS/CIGs along the front. The front will reach the UT-ID border
around 19-20z, pushing south to reach KPVU around 01-02z. Very
strong surface winds are expected in the lee of the Central Mtns
especially near Castle Country after 08z. These winds could reach up
to 60mph out of the west.
&&
.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...Winter Weather Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 1 AM MST
Thursday for UTZ102>105-107-108.
Wind Chill Warning from 8 PM this evening to 11 AM MST Thursday
for UTZ103-107>109-112-114.
Winter Storm Warning until 4 AM MST Thursday for UTZ110>112.
Wind Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 7 AM MST Thursday for
UTZ114.
High Wind Warning from 5 PM this afternoon to 11 AM MST Thursday
for UTZ120.
WY...Wind Chill Warning from 8 PM this evening to 11 AM MST Thursday
for WYZ021.
Winter Storm Warning until 5 AM MST Thursday for WYZ021.
&&
Kruse/Cheng/Cunningham
For more information from NOAA's National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/saltlakecity
For frequently asked questions about the Area Forecast Discussion
visit...
http://weather.gov/saltlakecity/general/afd_faqs.phpPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
1046 AM MST WED DEC 21 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0458 AM NON-TSTM WND GST BURNTFORK 40.81N 110.07W
12/21/2022 M73 MPH DUCHESNE UT MESONET
CHEPETA - 12120 FT
0610 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SMITHFIELD 41.87N 111.81W
12/21/2022 M57 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
CROW MOUNTAIN - 5629 FT
0715 AM NON-TSTM WND GST EVANSTON 41.27N 111.03W
12/21/2022 M52 MPH UINTA WY ASOS
EVANSTON - BURNS FIELD - 7162 FT
0800 AM NON-TSTM WND GST PICKELVILLE 41.92N 111.51W
12/21/2022 M69 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
PETER SINKS RIM - 8434 FT
0810 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SUMMIT PARK 40.83N 111.65W
12/21/2022 M50 MPH SALT LAKE UT MESONET
SR-65 AT BIG MOUNTAIN PASS - 7433 FT
0815 AM NON-TSTM WND GST PICKELVILLE 41.91N 111.51W
12/21/2022 M56 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
PETER SINKS - 8164 FT
0845 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SNOWBASIN 41.19N 111.87W
12/21/2022 M55 MPH WEBER UT MESONET
SNOWBASIN-STRAW TOP - 8999 FT
0900 AM NON-TSTM WND GST PARADISE 41.55N 111.85W
12/21/2022 M60 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
PARADISE - 5492 FT
0910 AM NON-TSTM WND GST LAKOTA 41.95N 111.49W
12/21/2022 M63 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
LOGAN SUMMIT - 7603 FT
0910 AM NON-TSTM WND GST POWDER MTN 41.44N 111.51W
12/21/2022 M62 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
SR-39 AT MP 46 MONTE CRISTO - 8966 FT
0910 AM NON-TSTM WND GST WELLSVILLE 41.66N 111.90W
12/21/2022 M58 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
US-91 AT MP 20 WELLSVILLE - 4498 FT
0915 AM NON-TSTM WND GST TRIAL LK 40.73N 110.89W
12/21/2022 M60 MPH SUMMIT UT MESONET
LOFTY LAKE PEAK - 11186 FT
0920 AM NON-TSTM WND GST LAKETOWN 41.81N 111.25W
12/21/2022 M58 MPH RICH UT MESONET
SR-30 AT LAKETOWN SUMMIT - 7159 FT
0930 AM NON-TSTM WND GST WELLSVILLE 41.58N 111.98W
12/21/2022 M53 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
SHERWOOD HILLS - 5658 FT
0930 AM NON-TSTM WND GST ALTA 40.56N 111.64W
12/21/2022 M97 MPH SALT LAKE UT MESONET
CENTRAL WASATCH PEAKS - 10994 FT
0940 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SNOWBASIN 41.21N 111.82W
12/21/2022 M56 MPH MORGAN UT MESONET
TRAPPERS LOOP ROAD - 5774 FT
0945 AM NON-TSTM WND GST LAKETOWN 41.75N 111.28W
12/21/2022 M62 MPH RICH UT MESONET
OTTER CREEK - 7160 FT
0950 AM NON-TSTM WND GST CLEAR CREEK 39.61N 111.18W
12/21/2022 M50 MPH CARBON UT MESONET
MONUMENT PEAK - 10390 FT
1007 AM NON-TSTM WND GST RANDOLPH 41.63N 111.41W
12/21/2022 M55 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
RED SPUR - 8872 FT
1010 AM NON-TSTM WND GST MANTUA 41.55N 111.95W
12/21/2022 M54 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
SARDINE SUMMIT - 5890 FT
1030 AM NON-TSTM WND GST TRIAL LK 40.84N 111.02W
12/21/2022 M91 MPH SUMMIT UT MESONET
WINDY PEAK - 10662 FT
1035 AM NON-TSTM WND GST NORDIC VLY 41.37N 111.76W
12/21/2022 M56 MPH WEBER UT MESONET
POWDER MOUNTAIN - 8897 FT
1040 AM NON-TSTM WND GST STODDARD 41.11N 111.64W
12/21/2022 M50 MPH MORGAN UT MESONET
THE HEAD - 8539 FT
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
1054 AM MST WED DEC 21 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1040 AM NON-TSTM WND GST EVANSTON 41.26N 110.97W
12/21/2022 M59 MPH UINTA WY ASOS
&&
CHRISTINE.KRUSEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
131 PM MST WED DEC 21 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0458 AM NON-TSTM WND GST BURNTFORK 40.81N 110.07W
12/21/2022 M73 MPH DUCHESNE UT MESONET
CHEPETA - 12120 FT
0610 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SMITHFIELD 41.87N 111.81W
12/21/2022 M57 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
CROW MOUNTAIN - 5629 FT
1250 PM NON-TSTM WND GST EVANSTON 41.27N 111.03W
12/21/2022 M60 MPH UINTA WY ASOS
EVANSTON - BURNS FIELD - 7162 FT
0800 AM NON-TSTM WND GST PICKELVILLE 41.92N 111.51W
12/21/2022 M69 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
PETER SINKS RIM - 8434 FT
0810 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SUMMIT PARK 40.83N 111.65W
12/21/2022 M50 MPH SALT LAKE UT MESONET
SR-65 AT BIG MOUNTAIN PASS - 7433 FT
0815 AM NON-TSTM WND GST PICKELVILLE 41.91N 111.51W
12/21/2022 M56 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
PETER SINKS - 8164 FT
1145 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SNOWBASIN 41.19N 111.87W
12/21/2022 M69 MPH WEBER UT MESONET
SNOWBASIN-STRAW TOP - 8999 FT
0900 AM NON-TSTM WND GST PARADISE 41.55N 111.85W
12/21/2022 M60 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
PARADISE - 5492 FT
1150 AM NON-TSTM WND GST POWDER MTN 41.44N 111.51W
12/21/2022 M70 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
SR-39 AT MP 46 MONTE CRISTO - 8966 FT
0910 AM NON-TSTM WND GST WELLSVILLE 41.66N 111.90W
12/21/2022 M58 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
US-91 AT MP 20 WELLSVILLE - 4498 FT
0110 PM NON-TSTM WND GST LAKOTA 41.95N 111.49W
12/21/2022 M70 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
LOGAN SUMMIT - 7603 FT
0100 PM NON-TSTM WND GST TRIAL LK 40.73N 110.89W
12/21/2022 M64 MPH SUMMIT UT MESONET
LOFTY LAKE PEAK - 11186 FT
0110 PM NON-TSTM WND GST LAKETOWN 41.81N 111.25W
12/21/2022 M62 MPH RICH UT MESONET
SR-30 AT LAKETOWN SUMMIT - 7159 FT
0930 AM NON-TSTM WND GST WELLSVILLE 41.58N 111.98W
12/21/2022 M53 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
SHERWOOD HILLS - 5658 FT
0930 AM NON-TSTM WND GST ALTA 40.56N 111.64W
12/21/2022 M97 MPH SALT LAKE UT MESONET
CENTRAL WASATCH PEAKS - 10994 FT
0940 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SNOWBASIN 41.21N 111.82W
12/21/2022 M56 MPH MORGAN UT MESONET
TRAPPERS LOOP ROAD - 5774 FT
1245 PM NON-TSTM WND GST LAKETOWN 41.75N 111.28W
12/21/2022 M67 MPH RICH UT MESONET
OTTER CREEK - 7160 FT
0100 PM NON-TSTM WND GST CLEAR CREEK 39.61N 111.18W
12/21/2022 M56 MPH CARBON UT MESONET
MONUMENT PEAK - 10390 FT
1107 AM NON-TSTM WND GST RANDOLPH 41.63N 111.41W
12/21/2022 M57 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
RED SPUR - 8872 FT
1010 AM NON-TSTM WND GST MANTUA 41.55N 111.95W
12/21/2022 M54 MPH CACHE UT MESONET
SARDINE SUMMIT - 5890 FT
1030 AM NON-TSTM WND GST TRIAL LK 40.84N 111.02W
12/21/2022 M91 MPH SUMMIT UT MESONET
WINDY PEAK - 10662 FT
1230 PM NON-TSTM WND GST NORDIC VLY 41.37N 111.76W
12/21/2022 M64 MPH WEBER UT MESONET
POWDER MOUNTAIN - 8897 FT
0100 PM NON-TSTM WND GST STODDARD 41.11N 111.64W
12/21/2022 M72 MPH MORGAN UT MESONET
THE HEAD - 8539 FT
1040 AM NON-TSTM WND GST WAHSATCH 41.20N 111.11W
12/21/2022 M54 MPH SUMMIT UT MESONET
WASATCH HILLS - 6820 FT
1130 AM NON-TSTM WND GST FREMONT 38.58N 111.48W
12/21/2022 M55 MPH SEVIER UT MESONET
SR-72 AT HOGAN PASS - 8977 FT
1220 PM NON-TSTM WND GST ALTA 40.59N 111.65W
12/21/2022 M56 MPH SALT LAKE UT MESONET
CARDIFF PEAK - 10059 FT
1225 PM NON-TSTM WND GST CRANMER 40.61N 111.48W
12/21/2022 M50 MPH SUMMIT UT MESONET
DEER VLY - MOUNT BALDY - 9347 FT
1230 PM NON-TSTM WND GST POWDER MTN 41.37N 111.75W
12/21/2022 M62 MPH WEBER UT MESONET
MARYS LIFT - 8890 FT
1230 PM NON-TSTM WND GST SNYDERVILLE 40.68N 111.57W
12/21/2022 M52 MPH SUMMIT UT MESONET
CANYONS - LOOKOUT - 8297 FT
1250 PM NON-TSTM WND GST SUNDANCE 40.41N 111.53W
12/21/2022 M53 MPH WASATCH UT MESONET
US-189 AT DEER CREEK DAM - 5429 FT
1255 PM NON-TSTM WND GST PARK CITY 40.61N 111.53W
12/21/2022 M66 MPH SUMMIT UT MESONET
DEER VLY - EMPIRE PK - 9570 FT
0100 PM NON-TSTM WND GST SUMMIT PARK 40.75N 111.61W
12/21/2022 M51 MPH SUMMIT UT MESONET
SUMMIT PARK - 6946 FT
0100 PM NON-TSTM WND GST NORDIC VLY 41.39N 111.79W
12/21/2022 M52 MPH WEBER UT MESONET
JAMES PEAK - 9425 FT
0128 PM NON-TSTM WND GST BRIDGELAND 39.89N 110.27W
12/21/2022 M54 MPH DUCHESNE UT MESONET
FIVE MILE - 7480 FT
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind gust of 83 mph was recorded at the SNOWBASIN - STRAW TOP mesonet site. Wind gusts of 78 mph were recorded at the Powder Mountain mesonet site and the Peter Sinks Rim mesonet site.
A wind gust of 130 mph was recorded at the Central Wasatch Peak mesonet site.
A wind gust of 101 mph was recorded at the Chepeta RAWS. A wind gust of 97 mph was recorded at the Windy Peak mesonet site, and a gust of 85 mph was recorded at the Lofty Lake Peak mesonet site.
A wind gust of 84 mph was recorded at the Monument Peak mesonet site, and a gust of 80 mph was recorded at the Ford Ridge mesonet site.
A wind gust of 91 mph was recorded by the SR-72 Hogan Pass mesonet site.
A wind gust of 70 mph was recorded at the Fremont Junction mesonet site, and a wind gust of 67 mph was recorded at the Orangeville mesonet site.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Utah in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, December 2022
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: 1068777, 1068775, 1068781, 1068783, 1068784, 1068785.