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SALT LAKE CITY — More snow is expected across mostly central Utah Wednesday night into early Thursday morning as a result of a storm that moved into Utah Wednesday morning.
In addition, more snow is now forecast for the Wasatch Front and northern Utah Friday.
Wednesday's storm brought a mixture of snow and rain to northern Utah and Wasatch Front valleys Wednesday morning, which made for a messy commute for some Utahns. Most valley locations topped out at about an inch of snow, according to a data update by the National Weather Sevices shortly after 4:30 p.m.
Of the mountain areas that have reported back so far, Snowbasin Resort near Ogden received the most snow with 6 inches. Canyons Village and Snowbird reported 5 inches at that time.
The National Weather Service also tweeted that scattered snow showers were redeveloping Wednesday afternoon and were expected to move into the regions during the evening but likely wouldn't add much additional accumulation. The agency added that most of the snow overnight will center around the central Utah mountains.
The Pavant Mountains, for example, are expected to receive 4 to 6 inches. Fish Lake, Joes Valley and the Tushar Mountains are expected to receive an inch or two of additional snow. Tony Grove in northern Utah was also expected to receive 1 to 2 inches of additional snow.
Many locations, including the Wasatch and Uintas mountains and places in southern Utah like Brian Head and the Henry Mountains could receive a brushing of snow overnight.
Winter weather advisories remain in effect for northeastern Utah through central Utah mountains overnight.
Due to the storm, motorists traveling on higher-elevation roads are being asked to use caution. The Utah Department of Transportation issued a road weather bulletin Tuesday, advising drivers to use caution Wednesday due to slush and snow expected as a result of the storm.
The areas most likely to receive snow and slush are:
- I-15: Santaquin through Nephi; Scipio Summit; Cove Fort, and possibly Wasatch Front at points Wednesday morning
- I-70: I-15 junction over Clear Creek Summit and Salina Summit
- I-80: Parleys Canyon to the Utah-Wyoming border, and possibly valleys at points Wednesday morning
- I-84: Weber Canyon to the I-80 junction
- U.S Highway 6: I-15 junction to Soldier Summit through Helper
- U.S Highway 40: I-80 junction through Heber; Daniels Summit to Strawberry
- U.S Highway 89: Logan Summit through Sardine Canyon to Bountiful; U.S. 6 junction to Manti
- U.S Highway 189: Provo Canyon
- U.S Highway 191: North of Vernal to Utah-Wyoming border; Indian Canyon Summit
- State Route 20: Entire route
- State Route 31: Entire route
- State Route 190: Big Cottonwood Canyon
- State Route 210: Little Cottonwood Canyon
Four-wheel drive or chains are required for motorists driving through the Cottonwood Canyons Wednesday, according to UDOT.
#RoadUpdate Road conditions are running wet with areas of slush in lower and snowy from mid canyon to upper in both #SR210 & #SR190. Plows are out! Even if you have proper traction devices, drive with caution in these conditions. Current snow fall rate at 1"/hour. ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/U7GvylBGsd
— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) February 3, 2021
Meanwhile, the Utah Avalanche Center moved avalanche danger to high in mountain ranges from Logan through Provo on Tuesday. It remained high Wednesday.
The danger is listed as considerable in the Uintas and central Utah. That comes after the previous storm led to over 50 reported avalanches over the weekend, including a fatal one near Park City.
The storm is also good news for Utah's snowpack. As of Wednesday morning, the snowpack for the Wasatch Front regions ranged from 61% to 66% of the normal amount for early February. Every storm has helped slowly improve those figures after a mostly-dry fall.
Friday weather forecast
A smaller storm is expected to roll past the Wasatch and northern Utah on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. The agency released accumulation projections Wednesday afternoon at the same time it released overnight projections for Wednesday's storm.
Friday's storm could produce an inch or two of snow for northern Utah and Wasatch Front valleys, according to the NWS projection. It's forecast to produce as much as 8 inches at Alta within the Wasatch Front. It's also forecast to provide 4 to 6 inches of snow in areas like Tony Grove, Daniels Summit and the western Uintas by the time it's over early Saturday.
KSL meteorologist Grant Weyman said temperatures are expected to return to the mid-40s with sunshine across the Wasatch Front by the weekend.
Full forecasts for areas across Utah can be found at the KSL Weather Center.
