Interestingly, the National Centers for Environmental Information released a report earlier this year confirming that St. The city set the all-time highest temperature record for the state when the mercury rose to 117 degrees Fahrenheit, Stacker reported. The popular tourist destination has always been famous for its red rocks and high temperatures - but on July 5, 1985, the heat broke a record. Unless you're a fan of heatstroke, it's probably a good idea to avoid booking July family reunions in St. It caused $170 million in damages and "awakened the entire state's population to the fact that the Beehive State does experience tornadoes," the National Weather Service said.ĭon't worry - the weather service also points out that Utah still has one of the lowest recorded incidences of tornadoes in the country. The F2 tornado lasted 10 minutes, injured 80 people and killed one. No one expected a tornado to sweep through an area surrounded by mountains - but on that morning, conditions were just right. It flooded two major highways, interrupted railroad service between Denver and Salt Lake and was Utah's first Presidential disaster declaration.Īrguably the most unforgettable instance of weird weather in Utah was the tornado that ripped through downtown Salt Lake on Aug. The landslide was 1,000 feet wide, nearly 200 feet thick and over a mile long. "Once triggered, the slide reached a maximum speed of 3.5 feet per hour and dammed Spanish Fork River within a few days." "Record-breaking precipitation in the fall of 1982, followed by a deep winter snowpack, then warm spring temperatures and rapid snowmelt in 1983 set the stage for the Thistle landslide," Mark Milligan wrote for the Utah Geological Survey. The Utah ghost town of Thistle holds that infamous designation. history came as a result of that flooding. But you might not realize that the costliest landslide in U.S. If you've been around for a while, you're probably familiar with the famous floods of 1983. Utah farmers reported severe crop damage as the lows at the Salt Lake City International Airport dipped to a record low of 40 degrees on July 1." "Utah campers in shorts huddled around campfires in the daytime struggling to keep warm. "Windy conditions and blowing snow closed highways in Yellowstone National Park at the end of June 1968," the article states. Though the National Weather Service lists the latest snowfall at the Salt Lake International Airport as (and the same day in 1977), a different news story says otherwise.Ī 2010 Deseret News article reported that the headline for the July 1, 1968, edition of the Deseret News read, "Old man winter scuttles June weather records." According to the article, light snow fell in parts of Salt Lake City on June 29 of that year. The next time someone complains about too much snow in April, you can tell them that it once snowed in the summertime. Military cargo planes even had to enact "Operation Haylift" to drop hay to starving animals. Once the snow froze, plows couldn't move them, which stranded people all over northern Utah. The temperature plummeted to well below zero," Armstrong wrote. Snowdrifts of up to 10 feet tall accumulated in driveways and along roads. "The blizzard broke windows and caved-in roofs. Writing for Only in Your State, Catherine Armstrong said that the worst snowstorm on record happened in 1949 when a three-day blizzard hit in January. Utah may have "the greatest snow on earth," but that doesn't mean it doesn't cause problems. From blizzards to floods to dust storms and record-breaking temperatures, Utah's seen a lot of crazy things over the years. history.īut that's what happens when the weather turns weird in the Beehive State. Summer campers never predicted they'd be shivering from snowfall.Īnd you'd never guess that one little Utah town was the site of the costliest landslide in U.S. No one ever thought a tornado would wreak havoc on Salt Lake City. This story is sponsored by Siegfried & Jensen.
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