2003 Utah snowstorm

Infobox winter storm|name=2003 Utah snowstorm
stormtype=Snowstorm
date formed=December 25, 2003
date dissipated=December 31, 2003
maximum amount=103.0 inches (261.6 cm)
pressure=Unknown
total damages (USD)=$1,820,000
total fatalities=5
areas affected=Utah

The 2003 Utah snowstorm was a major snowstorm that affected the state of Utah from December 25-December 31, 2003. Many areas of Utah were paralyzed by up to four feet of snow. The Wasatch Front from the Salt Lake Valley northward saw generally 1-3 feet of snow, with up to four feet on the benches, while the surrounding mountains generally saw 5-7 feet of snow, with up to nine feet in some areas. The storm even reached southern Utah with moderate snow amounts, with a few inches in some low-lying valley locations. At least five deaths were attributed to the heavy snow.

The Salt Lake City airport saw 21.9 inches (55.6 cm) of snow. The 19.4 inches (49.3 cm) of snow that fell from December 25 - December 28, in the first wave of the storm, ranks as the 5th-largest storm in Salt Lake City history. [ [http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/climate/slcclimate/SLC/table50.php NWS Salt Lake City - 10 largest snowstorms] ] The most snow along the Wasatch Front was found on the Layton bench in Davis County, which saw 51 inches (130 cm). Davis and Weber Counties were perhaps the hardest-hit areas, with even valley locations recording over two feet and as much as three feet in places. Bountiful, typically one of the areas hardest hit by lake-effect snows, saw 32 in (81 cm), Clearfield 28 in (71 cm), and Ogden 36 in (91 cm). The storm also affected areas further north, including Brigham City with 19 in (48 cm) and Logan with 18 in (46 cm). Areas along the southern Wasatch Front saw less snow, with just six inches (15 cm) in Provo, although Spanish Fork saw 17 in (43 cm), due to lake effect snows from Utah Lake, which Spanish Fork is frequently in the path of. The Wasatch Back also saw significant amounts of snow, with 50 in (127 cm) in Summit Park, near the summit of Parley's Canyon and just a few miles northwest of Park City.

The Wasatch Mountains saw phenomenal, near-record amounts of snow. Farmington Canyon in Davis County saw the most snow of any place in the storm, with 103 in (262 cm) of snow. The ski resorts of Salt Lake County saw several feet of snow as well, with some skiers reporting "epic ski conditions." Alta saw 87 in (221 cm) of snow, Snowbird 82 in (208 cm), Brighton 66 in (168 cm), and Nordic Valley 51 in (130 cm).

Unusual for such a storm, this massive snowstorm even penetrated into southern Utah, dropping moderate amounts across the south. The Brian Head ski resort saw 40 in (102 cm) to top off mountain locations, while even low valley locations saw snow, including Kanab with seven inches (18 cm), and Hurricane with two inches (5 cm), just a few hundred feet higher and a few miles east of Saint George.

Overall, five people were killed in the storm. An avalanche on the east side of Mount Timpanogos killed three snowboarders on December 26, while traffic accidents killed two people on December 28. In addition, at least 70,000 people along the Wasatch Front lost power just on the first day of the storm, and at least 1,500 traffic accidents were reported (most of them along the Wasatch Front). In total, the storm caused at least $1,820,000 in damage. Utah Power (now Rocky Mountain Power) faced criticism from residents and even the Salt Lake City council on the speed and effectiveness of restoring power to the area after more than 300 customers were still without power 10 days after the storm. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_/ai_n11433072]

References

* [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,575039707,00.html Deseret News article]
* [http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/climate/snowtotals.php NWS report]