Travel disruptions expected amid weekend winter storms
Photo of fog and fresh snow at Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon on October 12, 2021 (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
Estimated duration: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY—Travel on Utah roads this weekend is expected to be very difficult due to multiple winter weather advisories and heavy snowfall. We recommend leaving by Sunday to avoid travel dates.
KSL meteorologist Matthew Johnson said drivers heading to Pasadena, Calif., for the game should see clear skies on most roads Saturday, but on Interstate 15 between Salt Lake City and Cedar City. is expected to snow for most of Sunday.
“() The worst day to travel is Sunday…. If you’re traveling to the Rose Bowl, hit the road before (then),” he said.
Rain continues in the valleys along the Wasatch front on Friday and Saturday, but is expected to turn to snow on Sunday. There could be an inch or two of snow in the valley by the time the storm passes Monday.
Up to 3 feet of snow is expected on all Utah mountains Friday through Monday. The Wasatch Range can receive 2 to 5 feet of snow over the weekend, with large amounts of snow in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. There will be a temporary snowfall on Saturday, but it will return on Sunday morning.
Heavy snowfall of 6 to 12 inches is expected in Wasatchback, where a winter weather warning is in effect through Monday morning.
To get the latest forecast for your area, visit the KSL Weather page.
With so much snow expected, an avalanche warning is in effect for most of Utah’s mountains until 6 a.m. Saturday, when avalanche danger is expected to be high.
“This storm will further increase the risk of avalanches, as we have heavy wet snow on top of an already weak layer,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the latest winter storms add to the already well-above-average snow cover and could make this month one of the snowiest Decembers on record. The Alta has already amassed 137 inches this month, up from its average of 92 inches.
If the weekend goes according to plan, total snow cover could reach 167 to 177 inches, making it the third-highest December on record, behind only 244 inches in 1983 and 184 inches in 1981.
Road Weather Alert:
The first round of prolonged winter storms will bring heavy snowfall and several small valley effects to northern and central UT Friday through Saturday night.
More information: https://t.co/4P1gO2c9Uo@Utah Trucking
#utwx#utsnowpic.twitter.com/AOnCsCA1FU— UDOT Traffic (@UDOTTRAFFIC) December 29, 2022
A winter weather advisory is in effect for Bear Lake and Bear River Valley, with 4 to 12 inches of snow expected by Monday morning.
A watch has been set for a winter storm that is expected to bring up to 30 inches of snow to the mountains of southern Utah and the Brian Head region Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening.
The National Weather Service says travel will go from “very difficult to impossible.” A mix of rain and snow is expected due to the temperate nature of this storm system.
Eastern Box Elder County and Cache Valley are likely to encounter slippery and treacherous road conditions that can affect morning and evening commutes. The winter weather forecast for Friday says about 2 to 4 inches of snow is expected, which could turn to rain late Friday night.
Commuters and people on the road are advised to slow down and exercise caution while traveling. Snow forecasts can be found on the National Weather Service page, and road conditions can be found on the Utah Department of Transportation website.
The National Weather Service says that if you need to travel, you should always keep a flashlight, food and water in your car for emergencies.