Weather

Actions

Overnight storm brings messy morning commute, delayed start for some schools

Posted at 3:27 PM, Dec 01, 2022
and last updated 2022-12-02 14:52:12-05

SALT LAKE CITY — An overnight storm that blew through Utah brought heavy snow and howling wind to Northern Utah, creating quite a mess for morning commuters.

Several areas reported impressive snow totals, including the mountains which have more than 108 percent of typical snowpack for this time of the year.

In addition some school districts implemented late-start or moved to remote learning for Friday.

TRACK THE STORM: Get real-time storm information by downloading the FREE Utah Weather Authority app

Canyons School District closed school buildings for the day Friday, moving all students to remote learning for the day.

Logan, Weber, Murray Provo, Davis, Salt Lake, Alpine, Cache County and Granite School districts all delayed the school day by two hours Friday morning.

In addition, half-day kindergarten programs and preschool classes within the Logan School District were cancelled. Half-day kindergarten in the Alpine School District were also cancelled.

SNOW TOTALS - Friday Morning

  • Providence - 13 inches
  • Hyrum - 12
  • Logan - 12
  • Brighton - 11
  • Alta - 11
  • Snowbird - 10
  • Nibley 10
  • Mantua - 8.3
  • Clearfield - 8
  • Solitude - 8
  • Magna - 7.8
  • Kearns - 7
  • Taylorsville - 6
  • West Jordan - 6

A Winter Storm Warning was issued for the mountains along the Wasatch Front, Cache Valley, Wasatch Back, Uinta County, and the Interstate 15 corridor in central and southern Utah.

Although the storm started at around 11 p.m., the National Weather Service forecasts the heaviest snow occurred between 2-5 a.m. with snow tapering off during the morning hours.

The Utah Department of Transportation said traction laws are in effect for all drivers in the Cottonwood canyons, Sardine Canyon, US 40 at mileposts 4-13 and 20-56, Empire Pass in Box Elder County and Eastbound lanes of I-80 into Parley's Canyon.

Westbound I-80 in Parley's Canyon has traction laws in place for semi-trucks.

UDOT says the worst is behind us when it comes to active weather and the commute will get better as crews work to clear roads. While UDOT crews are catching up on plowing roads, it make take longer for local roads to be cleared Friday morning.

INTERACTIVE RADAR: Click here to track the storm as it moves across Utah

Because of the overnight storm, the Utah Department of Transportation expected up to four inches of snow accumulating on most valley roads, with 6-10 inches for mountain routes.

The Utah Avalanche Center has also issued an immediate Avalanche Warning through Saturday at 6 a.m. The upcoming storm is expected to bring new snow that will create dangerous conditions in the Bear River, Wasatch, and Uinta mountain ranges.

"The Utah Avalanche Center recommends that anyone traveling in the backcountry avoids being on any slope steeper than 30 degrees. Also avoid being under any slope steeper than 30 degrees in places where avalanches can run. Stay away from small steep slopes above terrain traps or other terrain features like creeks where avalanche debris can pile up especially deeply."

"Widespread avalanche activity is expected and the avalanche danger is HIGH," a warming reads. "The avalanche warning is in effect until 6 a.m. MST Saturday for the mountains of Northern Utah including the Wasatch Range, Bear River Range, and Western Uinta Range. A rapid load of heavy snow combined with very strong winds and preexisting weaknesses in the snowpack have created dangerous avalanche conditions. Both human-triggered and natural avalanches are likely. Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees."