Storm sweeps Utah: rocky mountain power outage impacts thousands amid high winds
A fast-moving winter storm brought heavy winds across Utah on Tuesday, cutting electricity to thousands of customers and toppling trees in some communities. Utility data showed widespread outages through the morning, with most service interruptions restored by early hours of the day.
Outage counts and restoration efforts
Rocky Mountain Power's outage map showed just under 300 customers without power in northern Utah as of 2 p. m. ET, a drop from nearly 1, 700 earlier in the morning. Outages were also reported in southern and eastern parts of the state. The utility cited wind as the primary cause and indicated that most outages were expected to be restored before 11 a. m. ET.
One of the hardest-hit areas was Tooele County, where roughly 13, 755 customers lost service for several hours Tuesday morning. That large outage was restored around 2 a. m. ET. Crews worked through the night to assess downed lines and damaged equipment while coordinating with local officials to prioritize critical facilities.
Wind damage and local impacts
The National Weather Service forecast strong winds statewide, with gusts above 60 miles per hour as the storm moved into the Beehive State. Those gusts battered valleys and mountain communities alike, bringing rain to lower elevations and snow higher up.
Some localized damage was reported in Layton, where a resident shared a photo showing a neighbor's tree down across private property. Across other communities, officials and utility crews encountered fallen branches on roadways and snapped tree limbs that brought down distribution lines. In several neighborhoods, customers experienced intermittent service before full restoration.
Power interruptions created cascading effects for households and businesses: traffic signals went dark in spots, and some residents faced temporary heating disruptions in cold, wet conditions. Emergency responders urged caution around downed lines and emphasized that even lines appearing inert can be energized and dangerous.
What to expect as the storm continues
Forecasts call for continued strong winds and a mix of rain and mountain snow as the system progresses. Utility crews remain staged across the state to respond to new outages, prioritizing safety and restoring service to the largest numbers of customers first. Residents in areas prone to tree loss were urged to secure outdoor items and avoid travel when conditions are most severe.
Officials recommended that anyone without power take basic safety steps: keep refrigerators and freezers closed to preserve food, use alternative heating sources safely and ensure generators are operated outdoors and away from windows to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. If you encounter a downed power line, maintain distance and notify the utility or local emergency services.
As crews continue restoration work and weather conditions evolve, authorities reminded the public to monitor local emergency communications for updates and advisories. The combination of high winds and winter precipitation makes for dynamic conditions, and preparations now can reduce risk until normal service is fully restored.
