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SALT LAKE CITY — Guardsman Pass, at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, has closed for the first time this winter season, according to the Utah Department of Transportation.
The pass, which is just under 10,000 feet elevation, closed about 1:30 a.m. Friday due to snowfall, according to a UDOT tweet. It will remain closed until at least Monday morning, the agency said.
The pass typically closes for the winter season from early November to the end of May, UDOT said.
Guardsman Pass was closed this morning around 1:30AM due to snow. It will remain closed until at least Monday morning. Check https://t.co/36kuYY4Mei for updates. pic.twitter.com/2CuQJuI5kl
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) October 18, 2019
Unified police closed Guardsman Pass because some drivers were sliding off the road in the area, according to UDOT spokesman John Gleason. Since more winter weather is expected later in the weekend, authorities decided to keep the pass closed until Monday, he said.
UDOT crews reported about 4 inches of snow on the ground at Guardsman Pass, Gleason said.
Temporary closures of the pass before it is closed long-term for the winter season are typical, Gleason added.
Friday will provide a break between storms for northern Utah, but another cold front will arrive in Utah on Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City.
Here is our updated snow forecast for this weekend's storm. Numbers have trended up slightly. Still expect to see a couple of inches of accumulating snow along the benches, and spotty light accumulations to the valley floor along the Wasatch Front. #snow#utwx#wywxpic.twitter.com/TcGJMe4mXK
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) October 18, 2019
Mountain snow will start accumulating Saturday afternoon into the evening, the weather service said. On Saturday night, snow accumulation will be possible on valley benches, according to the weather service.
The agency is predicting 4-6 inches of snow in Park City, as well as 2-3 inches in Heber City, as the weekend storm rolls through the state.
The full weather forecast is available at ksl.com/weather.
