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(KSL News) High winds are causing trouble on the roads this morning. On I-80 through Tooele County, there were wind gusts up to 80 miles an hour this morning.
The wind blew over semi with an empty trailer on Eastbound I-80 this morning. The trailor blocked both eastbound lanes, and the semi began leaking 20 gallons of fuel. Hazmat crews had to shut the freeway down for a time to clean it up.
Sgt. Bob Gutierrez, Utah Highway Patrol: "Right now with these winds as high as they are, if you don't have to travel across I-80, please don't. Stay put until the until the winds die down."
The accident has been cleared off the road, and traffic is flowing normally. Crews are not putting the truck and trailer upright until the winds calm.
A high wind warning will remain in effect until 4 pm this afternoon.
The warning is for the western valleys and desert areas of Utah including the Salt Lake and Tooele valleys.
South winds will continue across the warning area as a cold front approaches from Nevada. The strongest sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts around 60 mph are expected to be mainly across Tooele and Salt Lake counties today.
Dangerous cross-winds could result on east to west oriented roads such as interstate 80 across the salt flats and Routes 6 and 50 through west central Utah.
Travelers will need to use extra caution driving today, especially for high profile vehicles.
The wind also wreaked havoc on power lines. Utah Power said more than 600 people were in the dark because of downed lines.
