Power outages, damage reported as storms, strong winds impact the Wasatch Front

SALT LAKE CITY — Thousands of Utahns were without power in Morgan, Salt Lake and Weber counties as storms and strong winds ripped through the Wasatch Front, leaving behind some damage.

Just before 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Rocky Mountain Power’s website showed more than 7,000 homes were affected by power outages.

The outages were reported as dark storm clouds blanketed northern Utah, bringing rain, hail and heavy winds.

This timelapse video, taken from the William Browning Building, shows this afternoon's storm as it rolled through Salt Lake City. ⛈️ #utwx

📹: The University of Utah Center for Atmospheric Sciences pic.twitter.com/Z6YWCbgo9S

— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) August 22, 2021

Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued across the Wasatch Front during the early afternoon hours Saturday, including the cities of Salt Lake City, Layton, Bountiful, Tooele, Farmington, West Jordan, South Jordan, Kaysville, North Salt Lake, Centerville, Woods Cross and Stansbury Park.

Strong thunderstorms were also forecasted to impact portions of Central Duchesne County, portions of central Summit County and Uinta County in Wyoming, as well as portions of northern Wasatch County.

Significant Weather Advisory: A Strong Thunderstorm Will Impact Portions Of Central Summit and Uinta Counties Through 830 PM MDT. https://t.co/rDGeNv935l ##utwx #wywx pic.twitter.com/ix3QmOKJhP

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) August 22, 2021

A High Wind Warning was issued a little later on for Utah County.

Weather officials said it will remain in effect until midnight.

A High Wind Warning is in effect until midnight for Utah County. #UTwx pic.twitter.com/q2OaZXOCbs

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) August 22, 2021

Officials with the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City said the threats from the thunderstorms could include damaging wind gusts, reduced visibilities from heavy rain and possible urbanized and small stream flooding.

7:30 pm – Here's your latest Radar Update this evening as very heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts persist across the Greater Salt Lake Valley. Damaging winds, heavy winds and localized flooding are possible. #UTwx pic.twitter.com/nwAMp8Uujv

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) August 22, 2021

In Bountiful, a power pole snapped and fell over at 2400 South and 500 West.

Police warned drivers to avoid the area while crews repair the damage, which was estimated to take at least six hours.

They encouraged people to use U.S. Highway 89 and 200 West instead.

Power was eventually restored to all Bountiful residents, according to city officials, but they still advised drivers to use caution in the area where the power pole went down.

Power is back on for all residents. If your power is still out, please call 801.298.6072. Continue to use caution driving in the area as it will take several more hours to replace the pole. pic.twitter.com/Z9OgDND2U2

— Bountiful City (@BountifulCityUT) August 22, 2021

Monsoonal rains impacted Centerville Saturday afternoon as water fell by the bucket fulls and a microburst ripped through the area.

In Salt Lake City, at least three trees sustained significant damage.

One tree toppled over on North Star in Rose Park, barely missing a work truck.

A large tree limb also came down in the Avenues. This happened near 550 East and 11th Avenue.

Luckily, there was no damage to the cars there.

Hearing of about 3 fallen trees/ large tree limbs in #SLC. We spotted 2 areas: 1st is in the Avenues, 2nd is in Rose Park area. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/kbI7idEVw5

— Garna Mejia (@GarnaMejiaKSL) August 22, 2021

A couple told KSL-TV they’re still recovering from last year’s windstorm.

They were caught in Saturday’s storm while driving up from South Jordan.

“It was really bad out there,” said the husband.

“We drove through the worst of it,” said the wife. “It was raining so hard that it was bending the trees down, and we were afraid they would break, so we were going about 30 miles per hour.”

Up at Lagoon in Farmington, video showed a microburst that came through, knocking down several tree branches.

Park officials said a park guest was treated for minor injuries and released.

Witnesses said strong winds also took down some trees and branches in Kaysville.

On the highways, officials with the Utah Highway Patrol said they responded to at least six crashes between Davis and Salt Lake counties.

Those causes are still under investigation, but troopers are looking at possible hydroplaning in those cases.

A report on the extent of injuries has also not been released.

@UTHighwayPatrol tells me they’re responding to 6 crashes- 1 in Davis County, and 5 in Salt Lake County. They suspect possible hydroplaning… More info on @KSL5TV tonight at 10. #UTWX pic.twitter.com/rRC4nj0Jmg

— Garna Mejia (@GarnaMejiaKSL) August 22, 2021

Major outages were also reported Saturday in parts of Utah County.

City officials in Lehi said that approximately 10,000 customers were without power after the transmission provider for the city had an outage, which caused three substations to go out.

“We do not know when power will be back on, but we will continue to keep you posted as we receive updates,” read the city’s Facebook post.

If you have any photos or videos of the conditions in your area, send them to us at social@ksl.com.