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DRAPER — Motorists across the state faced a slick morning commute Thursday after a major snowstorm hit northern Utah, but kids were back in school after a snow day Wednesday.
Lake-effect snow continued to fall overnight and into the morning, making roads icy in areas of the Wasatch Front.
Traffic
Eastbound I-80 was closed at the Utah-Wyoming border due to weather for several hours. It was reopened by Friday morning, according to KSL Traffic Center.
Traffic stats from our big storm: February 5th the department received 32 accidents
— West Jordan Police Dept. (@WJPD_PIO) February 8, 2019
February 6, 34 accidents
February 7, 10 accidents
February 5-7, motorist assist 61.
#wjpd_tweet
Unified police said Big Cottonwood Canyon briefly closed at 2:30 p.m. for avalanche control. The road was expected to reopen by about 2:45 p.m.
Five lanes of southbound I-15 reopened shortly before 9 a.m. after a crash temporarily forced their closure at 11400 South near Draper Thursday morning.
Crash SB 15 blocking 5-right lanes. Only 1-left lane open approaching 123rd South in Draper. Traffic backed to 90h South in Sandy. pic.twitter.com/w7vu9n1CC9
— Heather Kelly (@KSLHeatherKelly) February 7, 2019
Several slide-offs and crashes were reported Thursday morning, including a crash on the transition of 2100 South and northbound I-15 and a multi-vehicle accident involving a semitruck on southbound I-15 near 10200 South.
A semitruck overturned near White Pine in Little Cottonwood Canyon about 9:30 a.m. The canyon was briefly closed but has since reopened. Commuters driving in the area should expect delays, though.
30 minutes or more uphill traffic closure above White Pine are while wreckers clear semi accident. Expect heavy delays, lack of parking, and a lengthy drive home tonight. pic.twitter.com/Vtt7MW56js
— Alta Central (@AltaCentral) February 7, 2019
Avalanche threat
A ski patrol officer who was patrolling near Solitude Mountain Resort was caught up in a small avalanche Thursday morning, Unified Police Sgt. Melody Gray said. Luckily, the officer was pulled out of the avalanche quickly, she added.
The officer was taken to a medical clinic at the resort to be evaluated but didn't have any injuries, Gray said.
Solitude communications manager Sara Huey said they had two crew members were working on avalanche mitigation efforts when they were caught in an avalanche, but both were fine. She didn't know where that slide happened and it wasn't immediately clear if that avalanche was the same as the one Unified police reported.
The threat of avalanches is high Thursday and there is an avalanche warning for many mountain areas.
Avalanche warning for many mountain areas.... pic.twitter.com/YDJRXAQKAJ
— Grant Weyman (@KSLweyman) February 7, 2019
School
Schools were open as usual, and districts that were closed because of the snow Wednesday were open Thursday, including Jordan, Canyons, Salt Lake City and Granite.
Ascent Academy's campus in West Jordan was on a delay, with classes beginning at 10 a.m.
Good morning! Our @GraniteFixIt plow drivers have completed secondary schools and are finishing Elementary now & @GSD_Buses look good. School will be in session. 1 of 2 @KSL5TV@abc4utah@KUTV2News@fox13pic.twitter.com/O8nH9HS9xN
— Granite School Dist. (@GraniteSchools) February 7, 2019
Snow showers should wind down as the storm moves out later in the morning, according to KSL Meteorologist Grant Weyman. Other parts of Utah were experiencing mostly clear skies but cold temperatures.
Get the complete forecast here.
Get traffic updates on KSL Newsradio and check commute times on the KSL Traffic Page.
Contributing: Linda Williams, Liesl Nielsen, Carter Williams and Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com
Editor's note: Officials initially said the avalanche that the ski patrol officer was caught in occurred at Brighton Resort, but they later said it happened at Solitude Mountain Resort. That has been updated in the article.
