Every winter in Utah, we suffer from a period of really cold weather, horrible inversions, and sometimes even massive snow storms. But none can compare with the winter of 1949. This winter saw the worst blizzard in Utah history and it was certainly a season to remember.

The winter of 1948-1949 was Utah's worst ever, according to the National Weather Service. In early January of 1949, a three-day blizzard hit Utah hard.
Utah State History/YouTube
The blizzard broke windows and caved in roofs. Snowdrifts of up to ten feet tall accumulated in driveways and along roads. The temperature plummeted to well below zero.
Once the snowdrifts froze, plows couldn't remove them. People all over Northern Utah were stranded.
Utah State History/YouTube
Sardine Canyon was closed for an entire month; families were trapped in their homes and had to be rescued.

Livestock couldn't graze, and many were exposed to the cold temperatures and froze to death. "Operation Haylift" was put in place to drop hay from military cargo planes to starving animals.

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Then, on January 15th, a second storm hit Northern Utah. A week later, a third blizzard pummeled the Beehive State.
Utah State History/YouTube
Roads were closed and snow drifted as high as the telephone poles in Millard County. People were stranded in vehicles and several avalanches trapped skiers at Alta and Brighton resorts.
After the storms cleared, the cold, cold weather rolled in. Temperatures dropped to -25 F in Salt Lake City ... and stayed there. In Woodruff, the temperature was recorded as low as -45 F.
Utah State History/YouTube
Schools closed and power outages were common. Another storm hit on February 5th, and the state continued to suffer through blizzard after blizzard all the way to April. Utahns pulled together to emerge from this series of storms stronger than ever.

Neighbors helped each other dig out and made sure that elderly folks were cared for. And of course, Utahns spent plenty of time playing in the accumulation of powdery white snow ... sledding, skating on the solidly-frozen Liberty Park Pond, and staging snowball fights.

Take a look at this video posted by Utah State History on YouTube:

Do you remember the winter of 1949? If not, what’s the worst Utah snowstorm you can remember? Let us know in the comments!

Utah is no stranger to disasters — both natural and ones created by man. Take a look at these 12 horrifying Utah disasters.

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Blizzards in utah

Courtnie Erickson | December 16, 2022

What are some other terrible blizzards in Utah history? 

While the 1949 blizzard in Utah is one that will go down in history books, it isn’t the only terrible blizzard in Utah throughout the years. A few additional storms include:

The great blizzard of 1993 when more than two feet of snow fell in less than a week. At the time, Governor Mike Leavitt declared a state of emergency, and the Utah National Guard was assigned to help with snow removal around the state.

On Christmas Day in 2003, Utah received a white Christmas and so much more. The snow started falling on December 25 and lasted until December 31. Along the Wasatch Front, people received anywhere between one to three feet of snow. It was multiple days of constant shoveling!

What are some popular winter activities in Utah?

Winter in Utah is one of our favorite times of the year. There is always a long list of activities to enjoy. Some of the most popular winter activities in Utah include:

 

Are there any sleigh rides in Utah during the winter?

Yes! One of the most popular sleigh rides in Utah is found at Hardware Wildlife Management Area in northern Utah. For several years, the sleigh rides at this wildlife ranch were not available, but beginning once again in 2022, sleigh rides are offered several times a week. A few things to note about these sleigh rides:

  • The sleigh rides are available in the winter during the elk-viewing season.
  • Tickets for sleigh rides are sold only at the Hardware Wildlife Education Center.
  • You cannot make reservations for the sleigh rides, and they are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • Tickets are based on age but children ages three and younger are free.

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