December 1
In 1982, Salt Lake City recorded its lowest barometric pressure ever at 29.01 inches of mercury. In 1995, it was the warmest December day for many parts of Utah; Provo-BYU hit 72 degrees, Salt Lake City 69 degrees, Heber 68 degrees, Nephi 70 degrees and Park City 57 degrees. In 2002, a rare winter thunderstorm occurred over Lake Powell.
December 2
In 1970, a white tornado was observed on Mt. Timpanogos by Tom Walker at Timpanogos Cave. In 1982, heavy snow fell throughout northern Utah with the Bountiful bench receiving 17 inches and Salt Lake City 9 inches. Major traffic tie-ups occurred and some schools closed. In 2001, winds of 80-mph caused damage in Tooele.
December 3
In 1902, an 8-day siege of fog began in the Salt Lake Valley. In 1983, strong winds ahead of a cold front caused some minor damage. Tooele had a gust to 72 mph while Park City had 100 mph at the top of the gondola. In 1999, Alpine received 9 inches of snow. In 2005, four skiers survived after being caught in an avalanche along the Park City ridgeline.
December 4
In 1966, a 3-day period of record breaking rainfall over southwest Utah caused the Virgin River to rise 12 feet in the Zion Narrows. A new campground and amphitheater at Zion NP were washed out. Some 3-day rain totals included 12.6 inches at Grassy Flat, 11.39 inches at Duck Creek and 11 inches in Pine Valley.
December 5
In 1952, winds over 100 mph toppled and destroyed KSL-TV's tower (tallest in the country) located in the Oquirrh Mountains. The falling tower narrowly missed the operator's quarters. In 1966, strong winds in Milford damaged trailers, cinderblock walls and offices at the Milford AP. In 1995, a tornado touched down in Pleasant View.
December 6
In 1956, heavy snow was blamed for the death of a stranded motorist, and for 2 deaths in separate plane crashes. In 1978, easterly winds up to 85 mph blew along Interstate 15 between Bountiful and Hill AFB; large trailers and trucks were blown over. In 1985, dense fog resulted in a multi-vehicle accident at Beck Street in North Salt Lake.
December 7
In 1919, Beaver had 12.2 inches of snow. In 1957, blizzard conditions dumped up to 16 inches of snow in the Uinta Basin of northeast Utah. Several canyon roads were closed along the Wasatch Range. In 1982, Cedar City received 15 inches of snow; strong winds in Parley's Canyon blew cars into the guardrail.
December 8
In 1985, a strong winter storm dumped up to 23 inches of snow in some of the valleys of the Wasatch Front and up to 48 inches of snow in the mountains. In 1997, Springville received 11 inches of snow. In 1998, a storm dumped up to a foot of snow in Utah's mountains.
December 9
In 1898, a severe canyon wind episode leveled many structures in Davis and Weber Counties. In 1931, Blanding had 11.5 inches of snow. In 1956, Salt Lake City recorded its highest barometric pressure ever at 31.09 inches of mercury; Milford also set the state pressure record on this date at 31.13 inches of mercury.
December 10
In 1982, freezing rain caused major travel problems around Delta and Fillmore. In 1985, canyon winds to 74 mph hit parts of Davis and Cache Counties. In 1990, a temperature inversion in Salt Lake City only allowed the temperature to reach 45 degrees; Provo, which was out of the inversion managed to reach 65 degrees. In 2004, a male skier was killed by an avalanche near Twin Lakes Pass.
December 11
In 1945, a whopping 7 inches of snow was dumped on St. George; it was that city's heaviest one-day December snowstorm. In 1958, winds gusting to 75 mph swept across northern Utah, causing power outages and vehicles to be overturned in Tooele County. In 2000, Brighton had 24 inches of snowfall. In 2004, three people were killed by avalanches in Utah.
December 12
In 1932, very cold temperatures occurred in Utah. Heber City dropped to minus 34 degrees while in Provo, it hit minus 19 degrees. In 1958, visibilities were reduced to zero in southwest Utah as 60 mph winds hit the area. In 1968, a total of 33 inches of snow were dumped on Alta.
December 13
In 1983, a strong winter storm dumped a foot of snow on the Provo Bench. In 1990, a 3 to 4 hour blast of snow associated with a cold front produced 2 feet of snow around Brighton and Snowbird and 3 to 8 inches of snow in the northern Valleys of the state. In 1992, Brian Head reported 24.5 inches of snowfall.
December 14
In 1988, a severe canyon wind episode began across northern Utah. Centerville had a gust to 104 mph, Logan 100 mph, Hill AFB 74 mph and Kaysville 67 mph. One-half million people were left without power. The winds uprooted trees, blew out windows, moved trailers off their foundations and damaged roofs.
December 15
In 1969, a persistent one-week siege of inversion-related fog began in northern Utah. Limited visibility caused one traffic death and two aircraft deaths. In 2000, a thunder-laden storm dumped up to 18 inches of snow at Powder Mountain. Winds also gusted to 114 mph atop Mt. Baldy at Alta.
December 16
In 1970, old man winter delivered record snowfall to parts of the Wasatch Front. Up to 2 feet of snow fell in some valley locations. In 2000, an avalanche north of Alta buried 2 teenagers. In 1977, Brighton received 25 inches of snow. In 1984, Provo received 7 inches of snowfall. In 2000, an avalanche north of Alta buried two teenagers. In 2002, four people were killed in a traffic accident on a slick road near Heber City.
December 17
In 1990, strong south winds ahead of a storm howled across Utah at speeds of 60 to 70 mph. In 2000, Sundance's Arrowhead weather station recorded a wind gust to 113 mph. In 2000, Interstate 84 from Tremonton to the Idaho border was closed for 4 hours due to white-out conditions; Daniel's Canyon was also closed.
December 18
In 1950, the northern valleys of Utah were in the midst of a 19-day siege of fog. Four to 5 inches of ice accumulated on on phone and power lines. On many days, landings were not possible at the Salt Lake AP. The plaster and joints in homes were damaged by the moisture. In 1990, Cedar City had a wind gust to 66 mph.
December 19
In 1984, Enterprise received 17 inches of snow. In 1990, heavy snow buried much of Utah. Duck Creek had 32 inches, Brighton 27 inches, Park City 20 inches, Pleasant Grove 14 inches and Springville 12 inches. In 1999, a gust of wind to 97 mph was clocked on Mt. Baldy at Alta ski resort.
December 20
In 1916, a 7-day storm began in northern Utah piling up snow which was the heaviest in 50 years. In 1920, Beaver had 11 inches of snow. In 1990, Minersville had 17 inches of snow. In 1998, Interstate 70 was closed from Salina to Green River due to heavy snow. Richfield's 13 inches of snow was the biggest storm in years.
December 21
In 1948, Payson received 10 inches of snow for the day. In 1963, Santaquin received 10.5 inches of snow. In 1998, heavy snow and strong winds caused a power outage to thousands in South Jordan. Many areas in northern Utah also experienced subzero temperatures.
December 22
In 1924, 13 inches of snow fell in Provo. In 1981, a mammoth snowstorm hit the Wasatch Front. Nineteen inches of snow buried Olympus Cove while 10 inches fell in Payson. In 1990, the high temperature of 2 degrees at the Salt Lake AP established a new all-time record low maximum temperature.
December 23
In 1955, locally heavy rains caused a increase in the water flow of many streams in northern Utah. Thousands of acres of farmland in Morgan County were flooded. In 1990, all-time record lows for any date were set: minus 35 degrees at Milford and minus 30 at Delta. It was also minus 57 degrees in Logan Canyon.
December 24
In 1982, Alta received a whopping 33 inches of snowfall. In 1983, Springville had 10 inches of snowfall. In 1990, the coldest temperature ever known in Cache Valley occurred at -44 degrees at USU's historic farm. In 1997, strong winds of 50 to 70 mph hit Davis and Weber Counties.
December 25
In 1924, Provo had its coldest temperature ever at minus 35 degrees. In 1983, a blizzard raged across most of northern Utah. In 1988, one to two feet of snow blanketed much of northern Utah. In 1990, many towns experienced the coldest Christmas Day ever as highs ranged from zero to 20 degrees. In 2003, a mammoth 3-day snowstorm began in Utah, dumping more than 5 feet of snow in many canyons.
December 26
In 1945, Snake Creek Powerhouse near Midway had 15.5 inches of snow. In 1984, a strong temperature inversion kept the Salt Lake AP high temperature at 27 degrees; Provo was out of the inversion and reached a balmy 51 degrees. In 1998, an ice jam formed on the Strawberry river. Water behind the jam flooded homes and damaged bridges. In 2003, three male snowboarders were killed by an avalanche in Aspen Grove near Sundance.
December 27
In 1909, St. George dropped to minus 4 degrees. In 1964, rain-induced mudslides destroyed 2 homes in Weber Canyon. In 1988, a very dense patch of fog along the Jordan River caused a 67-car pileup in Interstate 215 in Salt Lake City. In 1997, Hidden Peak at Snowbird had a wind gust to 112 mph; Many ski resorts shut down their lifts.
December 28
In 1964, a snowstorm in Santaquin dumped 11.4 inches. In 1972, a heavy storm began in Salt Lake City, depositing 18 inches of snow in 24 hours, closing the airport for 20 hours. In 1983, Salt Lake City experienced its first sunny day in 50 days! In 2003, a windy snowstorm forced the closure of many freeways and of Hill Air Force Base.
December 29
In 1921, Blanding received a foot of snow. In 1927, Provo received 9.2 inches of snowfall. In 1955, strong canyon winds caused damage in Ogden. In 1972, the weather observer in Santaquin measured 17.8 inches of new snow. In 1973, massive avalanches caused $250,000 in damage to vehicles and buildings at Alta and Snowbird. In 2002, winds of 82 mph hit Tooele.
December 30
In 1983, Springville was paralyzed by 15 inches of snow. In 1985, five deaths were attributed to an ice storm which glazed the roads from Provo to Richfield. In 1997, flights at the Salt Lake AP were canceled or delayed due to heavy fog. In 2000, dense fog at the Salt Lake AP may have contributed to a jet shearing off a row of runway lights.
December 31
In 1965, a man was killed in an avalanche in Park City. In 1975, a major winter storm produced near-blizzard conditions across northern Utah, resulting in numerous vehicle accidents and damages totaling $300,000. In 1998, a New year's Eve storm caused hazardous driving conditions. In 2002, at least 40 accidents occurred in Salt Lake City due to snow. In 2005, two snowshoers were hit by an avalanche on Mt. Timpanogos near Emerald Lake. One person survived and the other died.