Utah
Winter storm warning issued for Wasatch Mountains; advisory extended to Utah valleys
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SALT LAKE CITY — The Nationwide Climate Service on Thursday issued a winter storm warning for the northern and south halves of the Wasatch Mountains, elevating areas inside the vary from a winter climate advisory that was beforehand issued forward of a storm system that arrived within the state Wednesday.
The warning states that extra snow accumulations of 12 to 18 inches are potential inside the mountain vary between Thursday morning and Friday night time. The higher Cottonwood canyons might find yourself with extra totals exceeding 2 ft of snow.
“Journey could possibly be very troublesome (Thursday night time) by way of Friday morning. Traction restrictions could also be enacted (and) some street closures are potential attributable to avalanche mitigation,” the warning says. “The Friday morning commute shall be impacted, together with I-80 by way of Parleys Canyon.”
A lot of Utah’s different mountainous areas stay within the unique winter climate advisory, although the company prolonged that out to the Wasatch Entrance and Tooele valleys on Thursday, too.
Some snow has already fallen in some valley areas. The advisory states that a further 1 to 4 inches of snow are potential within the valley flooring Thursday night time by way of Friday morning, whereas benches might find yourself with a further 3 to 7 inches.
The storm system has already delivered barely greater than what was anticipated. Alta, Brighton, Park Metropolis Mountain, Snowbird and Solitude resorts all reported near or greater than 1 foot of snow by 6 a.m. Thursday. In the meantime, near a ½-inch of rain fell at Salt Lake Metropolis Worldwide Airport by the tip of Wednesday.
Brigham Metropolis and Ogden every ended up with about three-quarters of an inch of precipitation as nicely, mentioned KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson, including that many areas all through the state additionally bought soaked Wednesday night time. There have been nonetheless some lingering showers within the state Thursday morning. Johnson provides that many components of the state will obtain a combination of rain and snow Thursday afternoon, too.
“(There are) rain and snow showers north to south all throughout the I-15 hall, from Logan all the best way to St. George,” he mentioned.
The valley advisory is in relation to a different wrinkle within the storm sample that primarily impacts northern Utah Thursday night time by way of Friday morning. There is a low-pressure system coming in from the north that brings the valley snow with it.
Johnson mentioned the sample might produce some lake-effect snow, which might enhance snow totals.
“Then we start to interrupt issues up right here and it turns into slightly bit extra showery (Friday) afternoon however the large concern is for (Friday) morning’s commute. We’re watching it fastidiously,” he mentioned, including that the system clears out late Friday.
Utah’s forecast requires a light and dry weekend. Excessive temperatures are anticipated to be within the 70s in St. George and within the 50s alongside the Wasatch Entrance on Saturday and Sunday. The following storm system rolls in after that.
Full seven-day forecasts for areas throughout Utah might be discovered on-line, on the KSL Climate Heart.