User:Bob rulz/Utah weather of 2006

Utah's weather in 2006 was hot and relatively wet, especially across the south. January's temperatures were well above average with about average precipitation, which was followed by a very stormy, cold period from mid-February through mid-April, with much snow through mid-March. One major storm in mid-March brought snow to nearly all of Utah. However, the pattern dried out and warmed up by the end of April, and several successive heat waves occurred from early May through the end of July. The monsoon season was very active from mid-July through August, with widespread flash flooding occurring throughout southern and central Utah, although precipitation in Salt Lake City was below average during the summer (although above average in August). The first cold fall storm moved into the state in mid-September, and several storms followed through mid-October. Widespread flooding hit southern and eastern Utah in early October, especially around Hanksville, and a very cold, Arctic airmass, accompanied by heavy snow, moved into the state in late November. December had a few cold snaps and smaller storms, with one large storm in southwestern Utah around Cedar City. Due to the generous snowpacks of the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 winter seasons, drought was nearly non-existant across the state, creeping only into the far eastern border region and around the Four Corners from May through October. Drought creeped into the eastern Uinta Mountains beginning in late November.

At least 9 weather-related deaths were reported throughout the state in 2006. One person was killed when his private plane crashed near Jordanelle Reservoir in heavy snow in early January. Two people were killed by car accidents caused by heavy snow, one each in February and March, while two people were killed by avalanches, one each in March and April. One person was killed in May when a powerful hail storm south of Tooele caused their car to veer into oncoming traffic. Two children were killed north of Price in July when the car they were in was swept off the road by a flash flood. Another person was killed in August when they lost control of their car in Parley's Canyon in heavy rain.

January

• January 2–January 3 - A warm storm brought up to 2 and a half feet of snow in the mountains and caused flooding from heavy rainfall in Petersboro. Wind damage was reported in Cedar City, and one person was killed when their plane crashed into a mountain near Jordanelle Reservoir in Summit County.[1]

February

• February 15–February 16 - 9.6 inches of snow fell in Salt Lake City, the largest storm since the 2003 Utah snowstorm from December 25-December 29, 2003. It was the third-largest snowstorm ever to occur in February. One death was reported in a traffic accident due to the weather.[2]

March

• During the last 3 weeks of March, the mountains of Utah saw several feet of snow (in many cases over 8 feet) from several consecutive storms that moved in from the Pacific Ocean. Alta recorded 136 inches (11 feet, 4 inches) of snow during the month of March.
• March 9–March 13 - Heavy snow fell throughout the state as several successive cold, Pacific storms moved into the state. Cedar City saw 23 inches of snow, while 11 inches of snow fell in the small town of Green River, one of their largest snowstorms ever. Up to 3 inches of snow also fell in Saint George, matching their yearly average. Many mountain areas saw 2-3 feet of snow, with up to 3 and a half feet falling in the southern mountains (44 inches at Brian Head). One snowboarder died in an avalanche on Mount Ogden in Weber County.[3]

April

• April 4–April 6 - A massive spring storm moved into northern Utah, dropping torrential rain and snowfall. More than an inch of rain fell across the Wasatch Front, and some places saw well over 2 inches. Up to 3 feet of snow fell in the Wasatch Range. An avalanche swept an SUV carrying 9 people off the road in Little Cottonwood Canyon; fortunately, all 9 of the occupants of the SUV were found alive. Wind gusts exceeding 80mph were recorded in the Wasatch Range. Widespread minor flooding occurred throughout the Wasatch Front, with some areas seeing heavy rain falling on top of snow that fell earlier in the day.[4]
• April 14–April 15 - Yet another storm moved into the Wasatch Front. However, unlike the previous storm, this was a very warm storm, causing flooding and mudslides throughout the mountains as the rain melted the snowpack, even at high elevations. Flooding in Emigration Canyon cut off access to several homes and businesses in the area, and several mudslides were reported, including one that threatened homes in the Jeremy Ranch area near the summit of Parley's Canyon.[5]

May

• In May, moderate drought began to creep back into the far southeastern corner of the state.
• May 15–May 21 - A massive heat wave broke or tied 33 record highs during this period. The mild, calm weather in the weeks before this allowed the huge snowpack in the mountains to melt at a reasonable rate, and little flooding was experienced. This heat wave arrived just late enough to have little impact on the snowmelt.[6]

June

• In June, moderate drought spread north along the eastern border, while severe drought reached the Four Corners region.
• June 2–June 7 - Another major heat wave broke or tied 29 record highs throughout the state during this time period.
• June 8–June 9 - Powerful thunderstorms moved across the state. On June 8, flash flooding and mudslides closed roads in Capitol Reef National Park and Big Cottonwood Canyon, and torrential downpours dropped more than an inch and a half of rain in southern Davis County in just an hour, resulting in widespread street flooding and reports of a funnel cloud. An F0 tornado was reported just to the southwest of the town of Green River.[7] A plane also crashed due to the weather in Utah County.[8] Numerous hailstorms occurred in southern Utah County and Carbon County the next day, with 4 reports of 1-inch diameter hail.

July

• During July, drought areas remained nearly the same, with moderate drought straddling the eastern border and severe drought around the Four Corners.
• July was the second-hottest month on record in Salt Lake City, with an average temperature of 83.1°F (28.4°C), which is 6.1 degrees above the average of 77.0°F (25.0°C). The month also set a record for the highest average low temperature, with an average low of 69.6°F (20.9°C).[9]
• Several powerful monsoon events occurred throughout southern and central Utah throughout July, causing widespread flash flooding.
• July 4 - A severe thunderstorm over the Wasatch Range dropped heavy hail and sent powerful wind gusts of 50-70mph across the Wasatch Front, resulting in widespread wind damage. Hail reached golfball-sized near Parley's Summit.
• July 10 - Flash flooding caused U.S. 191 south of Moab to be washed out by a mudslide, while widespread flash flooding was reported in Cedar City and Capitol Reef National Park as well.
• July 18 - Delta tied its all-time record high July temperature, with a reading of 109°F (43°C).
• July 27 - A tornado was reported south of Kanosh.[10]
• July 30–July 31 - Widespread flash flooding occurred from powerful, stationary thunderstorms to the east of Cedar City, closing two canyon roads.[11] Minor flooding was also reported in Bicknell and Loa. One possible tornado was photographed to the northwest of Beaver, although it was never confirmed.[12] Along U.S. Highway 6, approximately halfway between Price and Helper in Carbon County, a car carrying a family of 5 was swept off the road by a flash flood, killing two children and seriously injuring another.[13] On July 31, nearly 3 inches of rain fell in 3 hours in portions of Zion National Park, resulting in widespread flash flooding, especially along the Virgin River.

August

• During August, minor drought relief was achieved in forms of heavy monsoon rains, forcing the severe drought away from the Four Corners region. Moderate drought levels remained about the same.
• The powerful monsoon continued through about the first two weeks of August, again causing localized flash flooding throughout southern, central, and eastern Utah before the monsoon track moved east of the state. The monsoon track moved over the state again by the very end of the month.
• August 1 - Two powerful supercells moved through the Wasatch Front that morning, with some of the most powerful thunderstorms reported in nearly 15 years. The first storm moved through around 10:00am MDT through the Salt Lake Valley, bringing heavy rain and wind. Magna reported 1 inch of rain in 15 minutes, while powerful 70mph wind gusts downed many trees in the Millcreek and East Millcreek areas. Minor flooding was also reported. Approximately an hour later, an even more powerful supercell moved through Utah County to the south, bringing destructive winds to Provo. Provo Municipal Airport saw extensive damage, where several buildings were destroyed and several planes were flipped over. A 92mph wind gust was reported at the airport. In addition, power lines and trees were down all over the city, and heavy hail was reported. Two houses were completely destroyed. The storms in Provo caused an estimated $13.2 million in damage. In total, about 26,000 houses were without power, some for more than 2 days. Remarkably, there was only 1 minor injury.[14][15][16]
• August 6–August 7 - Heavy monsoon moisture and thunderstorms affected the state. Heavy hail hit many areas throughout the state on August 6, with quarter-sized hail falling at Jordanelle Reservoir, and flash flooding was reported near Duchesne, washing out a road. On August 7, more minor wind damage occurred in eastern Salt Lake County, while a rockslide fell along U.S. Highway 89 near Marysvale. Flash flooding washed out roads in Capitol Reef National Park and near Bryce Canyon National Park.
• August 11–August 12 - On August 11, flash flooding hit areas of Saint George. On August 12, a massive thunderstorm moved through the Salt Lake Valley, bringing heavy rain, quarter-sized hail, and minor flooding to the Millcreek and Holladay areas. One person died in Parley's Canyon when they lost control of the car they were driving in the heavy rain.[17]

September

• During September, occassional heavy rain in the eastern part of the state caused the moderate drought to recede into the far southeast corner of the state near the Four Corners.
• September 7 - Flash flooding hit the state due to an upper-level low moving in from the Pacific Northwest. Part of US-6 in Spanish Fork Canyon in Utah County was closed due to rain, and flash flooding occurred in parts of Saint George due to a heavy thunderstorm that moved overhead.

October

• Due to the continual heavy rain events that fell in southern and eastern Utah, drought was completely eliminated from the state by the end of the month.
• October 6–October 7 - Heavy rain caused by a plume of subtropical moisture affected much of Utah. Hanksville was the hardest-hit town, with two highways around the city being washed out. A school bus carrying 20 high school students was surrounded by flood waters and a mobile home with 2 people inside was swept off its foundation. Fortunately, everyone was rescued safely. Hanksville itself, meanwhile, recorded an all-time 24 hour precipitation record with exactly 3 inches. The storm total reached 3.73 inches in Hanksville. On the Layton bench, several homes were evacuated due to fears of flooding, but only minor landslides occurred, and the road through Big Cottonwood Canyon was closed due to a mudslide.[18] In Hanskville, fears were raised about the economy of the town after the only diversion dam and irrigation system serving the city was destroyed by the flood.[19] Widespread flash flooding occurred throughout southern and eastern Utah, and nearly all rivers reached flood levels. Motorists were stranded in Capitol Reef National Park, while hikers were stranded in Arches National Park.

November

• Near the end of November, moderate drought creeped into the eastern Uinta Mountains area.
• November 7–November 8 - A heat wave set or tied 19 record highs across the state.
• November 20–November 22 - A pre-Thanksgiving heat wave set or tied 10 record highs.
• November 27–November 29 - The first major snowstorm of the season moved into the state, bringing widespread snowfall to all but the far eastern and southern valleys. Alta received 39 inches of snow, while Salt Lake City recorded 8.1 inches total, mostly from the lake-effect. Fillmore saw 15 inches from this storm.
• November 29–December 4 - A major Arctic airmass combined with widespread snow cover set or tied 41 record lows across the state, including 2 consecutive record lows for Salt Lake City on November 29 and 30. Delta set record lows on 4 of the 6 days.

December

• In December, drought remained in the same general region in the eastern Uinta Mountains.
• December 14–December 15 - A warm spell set or tied 13 record highs.
• December 27–December 28 - A snowstorm hit central and southern Utah, dropping more than a foot of snow along the I-15 corridor from Fillmore to Cedar City. Iron County was hardest hit, with some areas of Parowan and Cedar City recording up to 18 inches of snow.[20] The Cedar City Regional Airport and a portion of I-15 were closed, and much of Cedar CIty lost power for a time.