1900-2002 Weather Photos

On February 13, 1885, a snowslide at Alta (that was then a mining town) killed 16 people. This photograph was taken on July 3, 1885. (Photo by C.R. Savage.)

At about 10:00 PM, on July 18, 1918, two large bolts of lightning struck and killed 654 head of sheep on Mill Canyon Peak in American Fork Canyon. According to one historical account: “Forked lightning had struck twice and split down two sides of the peak. …There was about a seventy-five foot swath in between the dead sheep and where not a one was injured. …The dead sheep all had to be moved to the opposite side of the canyon so as to be off the ‘water shed.’ [Men] counted them as they were moved, six-hundred and fifty-four sheep had been killed.” (Photo by the U.S. Forest Service. Historical information provided by Darlene Hagberg of Salt Lake City.)

On August 9, 1920, hail one to two inches in diameter killed hundreds of birds and chickens and knocked out windows and damaged roofs of homes in Lehi. The hail injured several people–including one man who had an ear partially torn off by the falling hailstones. (Photo by Zelda Kirkham.)

On August 13, 1923, flood waters caused extensive damage in Willard. This is the Main Street of Willard after the flood had happened. (Photo by L.M. Winsor.)

On September 1, 1939, lightning hit and killed 835 sheep that had been bedded down for the night on the top of Pine Canyon in the Raft River Mountains of Box Elder County in northwestern Utah. Rain from a passing thunderstorm wet the ground and sheep, causing the lightning’s electrical discharge to move completely through the herd of female sheep and lambs. The next morning, fifteen sheep (out of 850) were found alive but in a dazed condition. The sheepherder was knocked temporarily unconscious, but escaped death because he was in a tent. However, burned spots on his canvas tent revealed he probably missed the fate of the sheep by only a slim margin. (Photo courtesy of National Weather Service.)

On August 19, 1945, towering thunderstorms pounded the Salt Lake Airport with high winds, heavy rain, and two-inch diameter hailstones. Nearly 50 fabric-covered airplanes were badly damaged, and hundreds of windows were broken in buildings in and around the airport. (Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service.)

During the Winter of 1948-1949, heavy snow, severe cold and high winds caused serious problems throughout Utah. This picture shows the road to the Salt Lake Airport clogged by drifting snow during February 1949. (Photo by Phil Williams.)

During the rapid spring thaw of 1952, 1300 South Street in Salt Lake City became a river of water with dirt and sandbag boundaries. (Photo courtesy of National Weather Service.)

At about 7:00 PM on January 10, 1964, forty mile-per-hour winds caused newly fallen snow to roll up like a lady’s hand muff, creating an army of “snow rollers” that marched through Sugarhouse Park in Salt Lake City. (Photo by L.V. McNeely.)

On February 20, 1971, canyon winds gusting to 88 mph flipped over house trailers in the Golden Bell Trailer Court near Farmington. (Photo by the Deseret News.)

At 3:12 PM (MDT), on July 24, 1981, a tornado touched down about three miles north of the Hanksville Airport. The tornado lasted for about 15 minutes, took on a red color (from the red dirt and soil it picked up), and uprooted some fence posts. (Photo by Barbara J. Ekker.)

During the past 149 years, the Great Salt Lake has peaked three times at 4,211 feet above sea level: 4,211.60 feet in June 1873, 4,211.50 feet in June 1986, and 4,211.60 feet in June 1987. This picture of the Saltair Resort on the southeast shore of the Great Salt Lake was taken during the flood years of the 1980’s. Large pumps were installed on the west side of the Great Salt Lake (at a cost of $60 million) and began pumping water into the west desert in 1987. These pumps now make it possible for man to control the level of the lake. (Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service.)

On September 29, 1982, floodwaters destroyed portions of the road near the Storm Mountain area of Big Cottonwood Canyon east of Salt Lake City. The flooding occurred after several days of heavy rains brought on by tropical moisture that moved into the state from dying hurricane Olivia and the energy supplied from an active cold front. (Photo by David Carpenter.)

On September 3, 1983, thunderstorms produced hail ½” to 1½” in diameter throughout the Salt Lake Valley, destroying gardens, denting cars, and damaging roofs. (Photo courtesy of National Weather Service.)

In the Spring of 1983, rapid warming during the last week of May and the first part of June caused rivers to rise dramatically throughout Utah. In Salt Lake City, several major streets were turned into rivers with sandbag boundaries. This is a picture of State Street at 300 South. The State Capitol is in the far background. (Photo by Jim Duthie.)

In the Spring of 1983, rapid warming during the last week of May and the first part of June caused rivers to rise dramatically throughout Utah. In Salt Lake City, several major streets were turned into rivers with sandbag boundaries. This is a picture of 1300 South Street at 700 West. (Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service.)

On June 23, 1983, billions of gallons of water broke through the DMAD Dam northeast of Delta and spread across low laying lands and roads–including this road located two miles northwest of Delta–and flooded the towns of Deseret and Oasis with several feet of water. The spillway of the earthen DMAD Dam was destroyed by heavy rains and rapid spring runoff. (Photo courtesy of National Weather Service.)

In the Spring of 1983, rapid warming during the last week of May and the first part of June caused rivers to rise dramatically throughout Utah. In Salt Lake City, several major streets were turned into rivers with sandbag boundaries. This is a picture of the intersection of State Street and 100 South. The Federal Building is in the background. (Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service.)

On October 18, 1984, a “lake effect” snowstorm dropped 22 inches of snow in 24 hours on the east benches of the Salt Lake Valley. The man in this photo is Paul R. Rich of Holladay. (Photo by of the Salt Lake Tribune.)

On October 5, 1994, severe thunderstorms produced ¼” to 1″ diameter hail that pelted many areas along the Wasatch Front. This picture shows hail collected at the Salt Lake City International Airport. The hail caused $330,000 in damage to McDonnell Douglas Hangers. Hail piled up two inches deep in parts of Cottonwood Heights, Holladay and Millcreek. (Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service.)

At about 3:00 AM, on August 12, 1985, a large lightning strike hit the southwestern part of the Salt Lake Valley. This picture was taken from Blue Fox Circle (at 6075 South and 3686 West) in Kearns. (Photo by Mike Rogers)

On August 25, 1987, a cold-air funnel type tornado touched down briefly west of Plymouth, then receded back into the clouds. (Photo courtesy of Christine Caldwell. Picture taken from a hill above the Hampton Ford Historical Site at about 3500 West 15200 North, Collinston, Utah.)

On December 23, 1988, a cold front produced heavy snow over the Wasatch Front, with up to five inches reported in some valleys, eight inches along the benches, and two to three feet in the mountains. Several avalanches occurred up Little Cottonwood Canyon. This bus was caught in a snowslide at White Pine in Little Cottonwood Canyon. (Photos courtesy of the National Weather Service.)

On December 23, 1988, a cold front produced heavy snow over the Wasatch Front, with up to five inches reported in some valleys, eight inches along the benches, and two to three feet in the mountains. Several avalanches occurred up Little Cottonwood Canyon. This bus was caught in a snowslide at White Pine in Little Cottonwood Canyon. (Photos courtesy of the National Weather Service.)

On May 21, 1992, a 45-foot wide tornado was spotted about 10 miles west of Beaver by a person driving south on I-15. After the person spotted the tornado, it quickly lifted back into the clouds. The tornado occurred in open country, and caused no damage. (Photo courtesy of National Weather Service.)

On January 11, 1993, a record snow depth of 26 inches was measured at the Salt Lake City International Airport (the previous record being 23 inches in January 1949). On the morning of January 11th, William J. Alder, Meteorologist-in-charge of the Salt Lake City National Weather Service Forecast Office, took this picture of snow that had accumulated in front of his home in Holladay. (Photo by William J. Alder.)

On March 4, 1993, up to fourteen feet of snow covered the ground at Duck Creek Village east of Cedar City. (Photo by Mel Aldrich.)

In August 1994, a controlled burning of vegetation on the southeast shore of Yuba Lake produced a towering firewhirl. (Photo by Jim Hanks.)

On April 4-6, 1983, strong canyon winds created havoc along the Wasatch Front. Wind speeds gusted over 70 mph in many locations, and Hill Air Force Base recorded a gust to 104 mph. Hundreds of trees were uprooted, numerous windows were blown out, and several semi trucks were blown over. The train in this picture was derailed near Lagoon. Total damage from the winds was estimated at eight million dollars. (Photo by Ogden Standard Examiner.)