Utah Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Utah Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Utah is higher than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Utah is much lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #6
| Utah | 2.02 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #4
| Utah | 0.0191 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #44
| Utah | 12.59 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 3,615 other weather extremes events from 1950 to 2010 were recorded in Utah. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 43 | Blizzard: | 12 | Cold: | 49 | Dense Fog: | 66 | Drought: | 102 |
| Dust Storm: | 3 | Flood: | 451 | Hail: | 398 | Heat: | 1 | Heavy Snow: | 503 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 4 | Landslide: | 9 | Strong Wind: | 295 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 754 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 49 | Winter Storm: | 388 | Winter Weather: | 228 |
| Other: | 260 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
A total of 7 volcanoes are found in or near Utah.
| Name | Region | Latitude | Longitude | Elevation (foot) | Type | Status | Last Eruption |
| Black Rock Desert | US-Utah, United States | 38.97 | -112.5 | 1800 | Volcanic field | Radiocarbon | Last known eruption A.D. 1-1499 |
| Markagunt Plateau | US-Utah, United States | 37.58 | -112.67 | 2840 | Volcanic field | Dendrochronology | Last known eruption A.D. 1-1499 |
| Bald Knoll | US-Utah, United States | 37.328 | -112.408 | 2135 | Cinder cone | Holocene | Unknown |
| Kolob | US-Utah, United States | 37.33 | -113.12 | 2727 | Volcanic field | Holocene | Unknown |
| Santa Clara | US-Utah, United States | 37.257 | -113.625 | 1465 | Volcanic field | Holocene | Undated, but probable Holocene eruption |
| Uinkaret Field | US-Arizona, United States | 36.38 | -113.13 | 1555 | Volcanic field | Holocene | Undated, but probable Holocene eruption |
| Wapi Lava Field | US-Idaho, United States | 42.88 | -113.22 | 1604 | Shield volcano | Radiocarbon | Last known eruption B.C. (Holocene) |
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 48 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in Utah.
| Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 1934-03-12 | 6.6 | N/A | 41.5 | -112.5 |
| 1934-03-12 | 6 | N/A | 41.7 | -112.86 |
| 1934-03-12 | 6 | N/A | 41.71 | -112.81 |
| 1934-03-12 | 6 | N/A | 41.75 | -112.5 |
| 1962-08-30 | 5.7 | N/A | 41.8 | -111.8 |
| 1959-07-21 | 5.6 | N/A | 37 | -112.5 |
| 1934-05-06 | 5.5 | N/A | 41.75 | -113 |
| 1950-01-18 | 5.3 | N/A | 40.5 | -110.5 |
| 1967-10-04 | 5.2 | N/A | 38.5 | -112.1 |
| 1966-08-17 | 5.2 | N/A | 37.3 | -114.1 |
| 1977-09-30 | 5.1 | 5 | 40.52 | -110.44 |
| 1966-08-18 | 5.1 | N/A | 37.3 | -114.1 |
| 1962-09-05 | 5.1 | N/A | 40.7 | -112 |
| 1980-05-24 | 5 | 5 | 39.94 | -111.97 |
| 1966-09-22 | 5 | N/A | 37.3 | -114.1 |
| 1963-07-07 | 4.9 | N/A | 39.6 | -111.9 |
| 1977-10-11 | 4.8 | 6 | 40.49 | -110.49 |
| 1972-10-01 | 4.7 | 5 | 40.6 | -111.3 |
| 1982-05-24 | 4.7 | 5 | 38.71 | -112.04 |
| 1981-04-05 | 4.6 | 1 | 37.63 | -113.3 |
| 1972-06-02 | 4.6 | 5 | 38.6 | -112.2 |
| 1970-03-29 | 4.6 | 10 | 41.6 | -113.7 |
| 1972-03-06 | 4.6 | 5 | 41.9 | -111.6 |
| 1983-10-08 | 4.5 | 6 | 40.75 | -111.99 |
| 1966-03-17 | 4.4 | N/A | 41.7 | -111.5 |
| 1967-02-15 | 4.4 | N/A | 40.1 | -109.1 |
| 1983-12-09 | 4.3 | N/A | 38.58 | -112.57 |
| 1972-01-03 | 4.3 | 5 | 38.6 | -112.1 |
| 1964-10-18 | 4.3 | N/A | 41.9 | -111.8 |
| 1967-12-07 | 4.3 | N/A | 41.3 | -111.7 |
| 1972-10-16 | 4.1 | 10 | 40.4 | -111 |
| 1976-11-05 | 4.1 | 7 | 41.81 | -112.7 |
| 1971-11-10 | 4 | 5 | 37.8 | -113.1 |
| 1968-08-04 | 4 | N/A | 39.1 | -111.4 |
| 1981-02-20 | 3.9 | 2 | 40.33 | -111.74 |
| 1970-04-21 | 3.9 | 4 | 40.1 | -108.9 |
| 1980-04-06 | 3.8 | 5 | 39.95 | -111.98 |
| 1979-04-30 | 3.8 | 7 | 37.88 | -111.02 |
| 1984-08-16 | 3.7 | 6 | 39.39 | -111.94 |
| 1981-02-01 | 3.7 | N/A | 37.57 | -113.24 |
| 1963-08-14 | 3.7 | N/A | 41.5 | -112.1 |
| 1982-03-05 | 3.6 | 2 | 37.37 | -112.61 |
| 1985-01-26 | 3.6 | 2 | 41.89 | -112.53 |
| 1967-03-05 | 3.5 | N/A | 41.3 | -111.7 |
| 1981-05-14 | 3.5 | 7 | 39.47 | -111.06 |
| 1979-01-12 | 3.5 | N/A | 37.73 | -113.13 |
| 1984-03-21 | 3.5 | N/A | 39.34 | -111.11 |
| 1981-01-16 | 3.5 | 2 | 37.45 | -113.1 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 8 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in Utah.
| Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County | |
| 1955-06-16 | 2 | 39°14'N / 111°50'W | 39°15'N / 111°47'W | 2.70 Miles | 333 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Sanpete | |
| 1963-06-03 | 2 | 40°53'N / 111°53'W | 2.00 Miles | 7 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Davis | ||
| 1965-02-09 | 2 | 40°43'N / 112°06'W | 0.10 Mile | 13 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Salt Lake | ||
| 1967-11-02 | 2 | 38°55'N / 111°15'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Emery | ||||
| 1968-08-14 | 2 | 41°15'N / 112°05'W | 1.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Weber | ||
| 1970-06-10 | 2 | 38°57'N / 109°43'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Grand | ||||
| 1999-08-11 | 2 | 40°44'N / 111°52'W | 40°44'N / 111°52'W | 4.30 Miles | 150 Yards | 1 | 80 | 170.0M | 500K | Salt Lake | |
| Brief Description: Around lunch time, a tornado touched down in the southwest portions of Salt Lake City. The tornado intensified to an F2 on the Fujita scale, and moved northeast through the metropolitan area of Salt Lake City. It caused widespread damage at the Delta Center, then ripped across an outdoor retailers convention tent, where the lone fatality occurred along with many of the injuries. After blowing out many windows in the Wyndam Hotel, the tornado continued its northeast track, knocking down scaffolding and shearing off a crane at the LDS Assembly Hall construction site. Next it skirted the Capitol Building, ripping out several large trees there and in historic Memory Grove. It then moved into the residential area known as The Avenues, damaging hundreds of trees and ripping the roofs off of several homes, before finally lifting back into the clouds. All told, there was 1 fatality, 80 injured, 300 buildings and homes sustained damage, with 34 homes deemed uninhabitable. At least 500 trees were totally destroyed, with 300 more damaged. Many vehicles were damaged or totalled as well. M38OU | |||||||||||
| 2002-09-08 | 2 | 39°16'N / 111°38'W | 39°16'N / 111°38'W | 2.70 Miles | 270 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.0M | 100K | Sanpete | |
| Brief Description: An F2 tornado began one mile south-southwest of Manti and moved northeast through Southeast Manti. The first mile of the tornado path was across open land, however the tornado produced some remarkable damage at the start. A 10X12 foot pioneer building was lifted, rotated 90 degrees, and moved 8 feet before being dropped back to the ground. At the south end of Manti, the tornado struck the Anderson Lumber business and did substantial damage. A 40 foot semi-trailer, loaded with insulation, was lifted and thrown onto it's side approximately 35 to 40 feet away. A large amount of debris, along with a 10X10 foot wooden shed, was thrown across Highway 89 and over the hill some 200 to 300 feet away. The wide swath of the tornado did considerable damage as it moved through the residential area in Southeast Manti. As the tornado exited the residential area, where some of the heaviest damage occurred, a 26 foot camp trailer was lifted and thrown to the west-northwest some 150 to 200 feet and disintegrated. The tornado continued across open farmland another half a mile or so before dissipating near the mountains. It has been determined that this was a high-end F2 tornado, with winds as high as 157 mph. The distance traveled was 2.75 miles, and the width was 800 feet. Time on the ground was approximately 15 minutes. Estimated damage is around $2,000,000, but could still go higher. Amazingly, there were no injuries. | |||||||||||
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.