Wasatch County, Utah
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 49051 · population 34,769 · 1,177 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,211 records for Wasatch County, Utah from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 652 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (956 records). 1,158 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the February 6, 2021 avalanche, filed for the forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80, which covers the county: 4 deaths and 1 injury. FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1977, 9 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Flooding” on December 23, 2023.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 1,211on 652 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 76111 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $78Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest EF0
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 2023
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Wasatch County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 956 since 1996. 40% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The rank column places the county among Utah's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 956 | 469 | 1996-2026 | 13 | 60 | $4.3M | 6 of 29 |
| High wind and dust storms | 111 | 81 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 9 | $1.0M | 5 of 29 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 65 | 62 | 1998-2026 | 57 | 34 | $282K | 2 of 29 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 35 | 30 | 1983-2026 | 1 | 1 | $80K | 9 of 29 |
| Wildfires | 18 | 13 | 2007-2018 | 4 | 7 | $73M | 4 of 29 |
| Hail | 11 | 10 | 1983-2024 | 0 | 0 | $941 | 9 of 29 |
| Floods | 7 | 5 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | $91K | 22 of 29 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 29 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2003-2004 | 1 | 0 | $23K | 8 of 29 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 29 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 2018-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 29 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Wasatch County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Wasatch County from 2018 to 2018, the strongest rated EF0, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 1 tornado whose track touched Wasatch County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Utah.
Every tornado record filed for Wasatch County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-05-28 | Wallsburg, Wasatch County | EF0 0.28 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Wasatch County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 22, 2026 avalanche (1 death and 1 injury).
A group of seven snowbikers met in Big Cottonwood Canyon and the Guardsmans Pass trailhead with the intention to ride in the area during the afternoon. Most of the group had extensive backcountry, including formal avalanche training, and members of the group were equipped with transceiver (though no transceiver check was performed), probe, shovel, and avalanche airbag. While they were aware of the conditions, including considerable avalanche danger rating (per Utah Avalanche Center), they set out planning to stick to low-angle slopes in Caribou Basin which they knew well. While riding, they observed numerous avalanches, and noted the loose underlying snow characteristics when getting one member unstuck from deep snow. After taking a break, the group decided to do one more session around the basin before returning to the trailhead. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1306850)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-24 | Thunderstorm WindCharleston, Wasatch County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindWallsburg, Wasatch County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-22 | AvalancheJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80 | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2026-02-21 | AvalancheJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80 | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | AvalancheJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80 | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | AvalancheJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80 | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2026-02-16 | Winter StormCarbon County and 5 more · forecast zone Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs | 0 | 0 | $80K | |
| 2026-02-16 | Winter StormDuchesne County and 2 more · forecast zone Western Uinta Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-16 | Winter StormJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80 | 0 | 0 | $200K | |
| 2026-01-05 | Winter WeatherMorgan County and 3 more · forecast zone Wasatch Back | 0 | 0 | $60K | |
| 2025-05-11 | Thunderstorm WindCenter Creek, Wasatch County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-03-18 | AvalancheJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80 | 0 | 0 | $10K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-02-06 | AvalancheJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80 The Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center reported that two groups, totaling eight people, were backcountry skiing at Wilson Glade in Millcreek Canyon, when an avalanche was triggered. The avalanche caught and buried six of the people, leading to four fatalities, while two survived, one with injuries. The avalanche ... | 4 | 1 | – | |
| 1998-01-11 | Winter StormJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I80 A broad Pacific trough moved through the region. High winds occurred with the cold front on the 11th. Some of the highest gusts included: Mt. Ogden 107 mph (93kts), Hidden Peak 71 mph (62kts), Bountiful 50 mph (43kts), NWSFO SLC 47 mph (41kts) and Logan 43 mph (37kts). Criteria snow fell in all listed zones with Alta ... | 4 | 0 | – | |
| 2007-06-29 | WildfireDuchesne County and 2 more · forecast zone Western Uinta Mountains There were 3 confirmed fatalities and over a dozen structures were destroyed by massive wildfires. Fatalities occurred in a field where farmers attempting to set up sprinklers were overcome by the fire. Two fatalities occurred on scene and the third occurred later at a hospital. | 3 | 0 | – | |
| 2003-12-26 | AvalancheJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone W Summit T Nw/Se Salt Lake/Wasatch X Sc/E Utah/P X E Juab/X Nw San Pete Three snowboarders were killed as a large avalanche swept down the mountain near the Aspen Grove area around Sundance. There were a total of 14 people in the path of the avalanche, but the rest of the skiers and snowboarders were only partially buried and managed to dig themselves out unscathed. | 3 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-05-09 | AvalancheJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80 A group of three backcountry skiers set out early in the morning to ski in the Big Willow Aprons area near Lone Peak. After skiing for several hours without issue, an unintentionally triggered soft slab avalanche occurred on the north aspect of the slope (approximately 40 degree angle) around 10,600 feet elevation. ... | 2 | 1 | – | |
| 2013-01-18 | AvalancheDuchesne County and 2 more · forecast zone Western Uinta Mountains A family was out for a day of snowmobiling in the Uinta Mountains, when they decided to take a break for lunch in a wide open basin on the West Fork of the Duchesne River. The kids walked to a edge of a ridge to see over the side when the ledge gave way, catching three of the children in an avalanche, and burying two ... | 2 | 1 | – | |
| 2002-03-16 | AvalancheJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone W Summit T Nw/Se Salt Lake/Wasatch X Sc/E Utah/P X E Juab/X Nw San Pete Two snowboarders were buried and killed by a massive avalanche which swept down a steep slope in upper Big Cottonwood Canyon. The two were part of a large group of snowboarders traveling through the backcountry near the Brighton Ski Resort. Most of the group had traversed across an open slope when a large section of ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2001-04-28 | AvalancheMorgan County and 3 more · forecast zone P Nc Weber/P C Morgan/P W C Summit/P Sc Wasatch Warm weather triggered a large "glide" avalanche in Stairs Gulch on Storm Mountain above Big Cottonwood Canyon, killing 2 hikers. The enormous slide was 1,000 feet wide and 10 feet deep. The slide funneled 2,000 vertical feet down into the narrow gulch. | 2 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-07-01 | WildfireCarbon County and 5 more · forecast zone Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs | 0 | 0 | $29M | |
| 2018-08-01 | WildfireCarbon County and 5 more · forecast zone Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs | 0 | 0 | $29M | |
| 2012-07-01 | WildfireJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80 | 0 | 0 | $12M | |
| 2012-07-01 | WildfireCarbon County and 5 more · forecast zone Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs | 0 | 3 | $1.2M | |
| 2023-04-01 | Heavy SnowMorgan County and 3 more · forecast zone Wasatch Back | 0 | 0 | $969K | |
| 2024-02-06 | Heavy SnowJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80 | 0 | 0 | $941K | |
| 2013-08-13 | WildfireMorgan County and 3 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | $887K | |
| 1997-01-25 | Winter StormJuab County and 4 more · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains South Of I80 | 1 | 20 | $552K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Wasatch County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 240 | 366 | 216 | 134 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 17 | 29 | 46 | 19 |
| Landslides and avalanches | – | – | – | – | 3 | 24 | 13 | 25 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 23 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 17 | 0 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
40% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 220 · Feb 180 · Mar 175 · Apr 123 · May 40 · Jun 27 · Jul 21 · Aug 15 · Sep 18 · Oct 40 · Nov 127 · Dec 225 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Wasatch County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Wasatch County: 7 major disasters, 3 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for flood (6) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-23 | DR-4752 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4525 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3478 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-07-02 | FM-5248 | Fire | Dollar Ridge Fire |
| 2011-08-08 | DR-4011 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3223 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-08-01 | DR-1598 | Flood | Flooding and Landslides |
| 1986-03-13 | DR-760 | Flood | Heavy Rains, Snowmelt & Flooding |
| 1984-08-17 | DR-720 | Flood | Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & Flooding |
| 1983-04-30 | DR-680 | Flood | Severe Storms, Landslides & Flooding |
| 1977-01-20 | EM-3024 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Wasatch County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 7 flood or flash flood records for Wasatch County from 1997 to 2024, on 5 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Wasatch County ranks 2291st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $40,000 on 12 claims filed in Wasatch County; the most in one year was 4 in 1983. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1983: 4 · 2008: 1 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Wasatch County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wasatch County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $16.7 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | Relatively High | $3.3M | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $751K | 48 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $240K | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | $4.4M | once in about 226 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $769K | 46 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $429K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $667K | once in about 142 years (modeled) |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | $8 | once in about 10,000 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Wasatch County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in UtahEvery Utah tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in UtahThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Utah recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Wasatch CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Wasatch County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis