Residents Along Wasatch Front Wake Up To High Winds

FARMINGTON, Utah – Residents along the northern Wasatch Front woke up Tuesday to high winds as a downslope event brought gusts of up to 69 miles per hour in some areas.

According to the National Weather Service, the strongest winds are likely to occur in downslope-prone areas until about 10 a.m.

Strong winds expected to continue this morning along portions of the Wasatch Front, with the strongest focused from Davis Co north to around Brigham City. Many observed wind gusts 40-65mph with peak gust overnight of 69 in Farmington. #utwx

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) January 19, 2021

NWS reported strong winds on roads and cautioned drivers traveling on Highway 89, I-15 and Legacy Parkway to proceed with caution.

The Weber School District was also affected by the winds. Officials announced that due to power outages and safety precautions, bus pickups and school start times would be delayed by two hours at all locations.

At 3 a.m., a 69-mile-per-hour gust was reported on US-89 along the northern Wasatch Front, and a 65 mile-per-hour gust was reported on US-89 in Weber Canyon about an hour later.

Trees down in Washington Terrace one on this truck #utwx #KSLTV pic.twitter.com/YzkM9pVqhJ

— Derek Petersen (@Derek_Photog) January 19, 2021

Salt Lake City also saw high winds, though not as strong as the gusts recorded in northern areas. At the University of Utah, a 46-mile-per-hour gust was recorded at 3 a.m.

While the winds are significant, they are nowhere near the severity of the hurricane-force winds that caused widespread damage last year. NWS authorities said Tuesday’s downslope wind event would not reach the level of the storm in September 2020.

KSL meteorologist Grant Weyman said the wind is expected to die off by 2 p.m, leaving things cool and sunny.

Here’s a look at some of the damage in Layton this morning after the wind uprooted a tree and sent it crashing over a fence. pic.twitter.com/3nmEL16EDM

— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) January 19, 2021