A Terrifying, Deadly Storm Struck Utah In 1999… And No One Saw It Coming
Salt Lake City residents have long been worried about the “big” earthquake that could occur at any time along the Wasatch Front. The one thing we haven’t been worried about is tornadoes. Most people figured that the Wasatch mountains protected the valley from that particular natural disaster. Unfortunately, on August 11, 1999, the unthinkable happened.
The weather was cloudy on the morning of August 11th. By 12:40 p.m., it was hailing in the south part of the Salt Lake Valley. At 1:00 p.m., many residents of Salt Lake City began reporting a funnel cloud.
The tornado traveled from the west side of Salt Lake City, headed northwest, then stopped at Memory Grove.
The Outdoor Retailers Association was preparing for its convention that day. Allen Crandy, from Las Vegas, was setting up a tent when the tornado ripped across the street. He was killed by debris.
The Delta Center suffered minor exterior damage, as did several other buildings downtown.
These trees in front of the Capitol building were ripped right out of the ground.
The tornado passed through this salt lake resident’s front yard. The total damage of the tornado was estimated at $170 million.
Final Touch Film was capturing video for a wedding at the Salt Lake Temple when the tornado hit the downtown area. This footage shows the force of the winds and some of the damage. Luckily, the bridal party was unhurt.
Where were you on the day of the tornado?
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