Strong tornado touched down in eastern Utah over weekend, NWS confirms
Jun 22, 2022, 10:32 AM | Updated: 11:29 am
(NWS Salt Lake City)
DUCHESNE COUNTY, Utah — An EF-2, or strong, tornado occurred Sunday morning near the summit of U.S. Route 191 in remote southwestern Duchesne County, according to preliminary information from the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City.
After a damage survey was conducted for the June 19 event, the NWS estimated the peak wind at 125 mph, the path length at 2.0787 miles, and the path width at 880 yards.
The tornado began at 9:13 a.m. at 12 NE Castle Gate and ended at 9:17 a.m. at 14 NE Castle Gate. No fatalities or injuries occurred as a result of the tornado.
Today the NWS Storm Survey team confirmed an EF-2 tornado tracked through Indian Canyon in Duchesne County on Sunday June 19th. It was on the ground for approximately 2 miles. See https://t.co/2J9Fq0hqVB for additional details. pic.twitter.com/7Ae1m8lZG7
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) June 22, 2022
Additional details, including where exactly the tornado traveled and what damage it caused, were released Tuesday in the survey summary.
According to the report, the maximum damage was found in a mixed aspen and conifer forest as the tornado descended the length of a valley adjacent to U.S. 191 — along Indian Canyon — to a creek adjacent to the roadway, at an elevation of approximately 8,500 feet.
“Almost all trees over a large hillside facing the road were violently blown down, snapped, or topped into a clearly convergent axis. Several tree tops were deposited along the creek and road with no clear indication as to where they originated,” the summary stated.
Considerable damage was also found immediately north of U.S. 191 “where numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, although not to the severe extent noted on the south side of the road.”
More information about the tornado can be found here.
A reminder that tornadoes occur right here in UT. In fact, we've averaged two per year since 1950. If you find yourself facing a tornado, try to take shelter in a low place like a ditch or ravine. If indoors, get into a basement, or a room without windows. https://t.co/1tuYd5HkAK https://t.co/tWkCLLYABk
— Utah Division of Emergency Management (Utah DEM) (@UtahEmergency) June 22, 2022