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Avalanche — Western Uinta Mountains, Utah

December 31, 2007 · NOAA Storm Events record

Direct deaths
1
Direct injuries
2
Property damage
—
Area
Western Uinta Mountains

Event narrative (NOAA)

Three experienced snowmobilers were riding in Smith Basin, about 15 miles east-northeast of the Co-op trailhead, when an avalanche engulfed all three of them. Two of them were able to swim out of the snow, but the third, a 41 year-old male, was buried for at least 40 minutes, and died before they could dig him out. For the state of Utah, this was the third avalanche fatality in 8 days. It was also the 7th avalanche fatality for the 2007 calendar year, the most in one year since records have been kept, starting in 1958.

Other notable avalanche events in Utah

Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80 · February 6, 20214 killedW Summit T Nw/Se Salt Lake/Wasatch X Sc/E Utah/P X E Juab/X Nw San Pete · December 26, 20033 killedSanpete/Sevier Valleys · January 2, 19992 killedW Summit T Nw/Se Salt Lake/Wasatch X Sc/E Utah/P X E Juab/X Nw San Pete · January 11, 20002 killedWestern Unita Mountains · March 10, 20012 killedP Nc Weber/P C Morgan/P W C Summit/P Sc Wasatch · April 28, 20012 killed

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.

Avalanche — Western Uinta Mountains, Utah, December 31, 2007 | DisasterAtlasUSA