A potent storm system brought very strong wind and heavy snow to much of Utah. The cold front brought poor visibilities in snow and blowing snow to the Wasatch Front, resulting in numerous road closures and traffic accidents.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, UTAH
From 28-JAN-08 07:15:00 to 28-JAN-08 07:15:00 (MST-7)
Location: (SGU)ST GEORGE MUNI
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The St. George AWOS recorded a 74 mph wind gust associated with a thunderstorm.

High Wind in SALT LAKE AND TOOELE VALLEYS, UTAH
From 27-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 27-JAN-08 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Ahead of the cold front, strong pre-frontal winds impacted the Salt Lake and Tooele Valleys, including a gust of 66 mph at the South Mountain Tooele Mesonet sensor.

High Wind in GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT AND MOUNTAINS, UTAH
From 27-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 28-JAN-08 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Ahead of the cold front, there were strong southerly winds in the west deserts. The strongest gust was measured at 70 mph at the V Grid sensor, part of the Dugway Mesonet.

High Wind in SOUTHWEST UTAH, UTAH
From 28-JAN-08 11:00:00 to 28-JAN-08 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The Brimstone Reservoir RAWS recorded a maximum wind gust of 58 mph.

Winter Storm in WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80, UTAH
From 27-JAN-08 17:00:00 to 28-JAN-08 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Multiple sensors recorded wind gusts greater than 75 mph. In addition, Solitude received 33 inches of snow and Alta UDOT received 29 inches.

Winter Storm in WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS, UTAH
From 27-JAN-08 18:00:00 to 28-JAN-08 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Brown Duck and Chalk Creek SNOTELs both received approximately 12 inches of snow in 12 hours on the 28th.

Winter Storm in CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, UTAH
From 27-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 28-JAN-08 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Signal Peak RAWS recorded wind gusts up to 79 mph, while the Pine Creek SNOTEL received at least 12 inches of snow in 12 hours.

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS, UTAH
From 27-JAN-08 15:00:00 to 28-JAN-08 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Several SNOTELs, including Cedar Breaks and Kolob, received more than 3.00 inches of snow water equivalent for the event.

Winter Storm in NORTHERN WASATCH FRONT, UTAH
From 28-JAN-08 10:00:00 to 28-JAN-08 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Near white-out conditions with 40 mph winds were experienced on I-15, making travel nearly impossible.

Winter Storm in SALT LAKE AND TOOELE VALLEYS, UTAH
From 28-JAN-08 10:00:00 to 28-JAN-08 21:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Near white-out conditions were experienced on roads in the Salt Lake Valley, including Interstates 15 and 80. At the peak of the storm, Salt Lake City ASOS recorded 1/8 mile visibility and 45 mph wind gusts. Interstate 80 east of Salt Lake City was closed for approximately 5 hours. A 34-year-old woman was killed in a one-car accident near Grantsville; slick conditions caused the woman's vehicle to roll into a wash where she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN WASATCH FRONT, UTAH
From 28-JAN-08 10:00:00 to 28-JAN-08 21:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Heavy snow and wind gusts up to 50 mph highly impacted travel. Interstate 15 near Payson was closed in both directions by a large chain-reaction pileup accident which stretched for 3 miles and involved 40 vehicles including 20 semi-trucks. Twenty-seven people were transported to local hospitals. With Salt Lake and Utah counties combined, troopers responded to a total of 200 traffic accidents from this event.

Winter Storm in WASATCH MOUNTAIN VALLEYS, UTAH
From 28-JAN-08 10:00:00 to 28-JAN-08 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Near white-out conditions highly impacted travel in the mountain valleys.

Winter Storm in WASATCH PLATEAU/BOOK CLIFFS, UTAH
From 27-JAN-08 20:00:00 to 28-JAN-08 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Daniels Strawberry SNOTEL received approximately 12 inches of snow in 12 hours on the 28th.

Winter Storm in WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH, UTAH
From 27-JAN-08 12:00:00 to 28-JAN-08 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Multiple sensors in the area recorded wind gusts greater than 82 mph, including a maximum wind gust of 101 mph at Snowbasin Strawtop. Snowbasin also received 9 inches of snow.