It Was So Cold In Utah In 1949, Temperatures Stayed Below Freezing For Weeks
By Courtnie Erickson|Published December 27, 2022
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Courtnie Erickson
Author
From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
Cold and snowy winters are not that uncommon in the Beehive State. Throughout the years, we have had many storms pass through that have broke records for low temperatures or heavy snowfall. But, one of the coldest and most dangerous was the winter of 1948-1949, when Utah not only received tons of snow, but temperatures reached extreme lows as well. There’s no doubt that it was a winter to remember.
The winter of 1948-1949 will be written in the history books. If you lived through it, you will understand it is one winter in Utah that is hard to forget.
December began as a snowy, snowy month. Approximately 39 inches fell at the Salt Lake City Airport throughout the month, and there were only seven days in December without snowfall.
In January 1949, the first of multiple winter storms struck the state. The first blizzard lasted for three days with high-force winds that created snowdrifts up to 10 feet high.
Unfortunately, snow wasn’t enough and cold temperatures also stormed in. The frigid temperatures froze the snowdrifts, making cleanup impossible.
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The storms kept coming. Not only did excessive amounts of snow fall, but temperatures were bone-chilling. Overnight lows in the state would drop to -45 degrees Fahrenheit and daytime highs hardly reached double digits.
Unfortunately, at the time, Utah was also in the middle of a terrible inversion. This winter was particularly bad as more coal than normal was being burned to keep homes warm.
February and March continued to see snow and cold temperatures. There were only eight snowless days in January 1949 and nine in February. March even saw 11 snowy days.
Temperatures in Salt Lake City were also uncommonly cold. January saw 13 subzero days and February experienced four. On average Salt Lake City only sees three or four in an entire year.
The winter not only brought snow and cold temperatures, but it also brought many problems. Schools were closed, cities had difficulty maintaining power, coal supplies began to run low, farmers struggled to feed their livestock, and more. It was a tough time for everyone.
Fortunately, while we may experience cold and snowy winters, very few are as bad as the winter of 1948-1949. This is one winter in Utah we pray never repeats itself.
What is the worst winter in Utah that you remember? Tell us about it in the comments. And while winter can be cold and miserable, it is also beautiful, especially when covered under fresh snowfall. Check out these photos of the iconic delicate arch covered in snow. These pictures prove that winter in Utah is magical.
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