The latest on closures, traffic and weather during Wednesday's record-breaking snowstorm

SALT LAKE CITY — A record-breaking Utah snowstorm led to school closures and dangerous roads on Wednesday.

By midday, the Salt Lake City International Airport had received 11.7 inches, which is the most snowfall ever for a single day in February, according to the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City.

The previous record for Feb. 17 snowfall was 7.6 inches, set in 1926, the weather service said. The previous highest snowfall total for a single day in February was 10.9 inches, set on Feb. 1, 1989.

As the storm continues moving through the Wasatch Front, drivers are asked to be cautious due to dangerous road conditions. Here is a full list of closures, delays, traffic and weather.

Check back for more updates throughout the day.

Schools

Remote learning

• Canyons School District
• Layton Christian Academy — Grades 7-12 remote learning; Elementary students should come to school when they can
• Murray School District (with 2-hour delay)
• Realms of Inquiry Private School — Middle and high school virtual learning

Closed

• American Academy of Innovation
• American Heritage of South Jordan
• Blessed Sacrament Catholic School (Sandy)
• Carden Memorial (Salt Lake City)
• Intermountain Christian School (Salt Lake City)
• Judge Memorial (Salt Lake City)
• Juan Diego Catholic High School
• St. Francis Xavier School (Kearns)
• Waterford School (Sandy)

Delayed start

• Hawthorn Academy — Both South Jordan and West Jordan campuses starting at 10 a.m.
• Judge Memorial (Salt Lake City) — Starting at 10:30 a.m.
• Salt Lake Community College — All departments and in-person classes canceled until 12 p.m.
• Summit Academy and Summit High School (Draper) — Starting at 10 a.m.
• University of Utah — In-person classes canceled until 11 a.m.
• Westminster College — Campus closed until 12 p.m.

Delayed meal service

• Salt Lake City School District — Grab and Go meals served 30 minutes later than usual; Ensign Elementary and Indian Hills Elementary meal sites closed

Open

• Alpine School District
• Davis School District
• Granite School District
• Jordan School District
• Ogden School District
• Tooele County School District — Except Dugway School, which will start at 10 a.m.
• Utah Valley University — All campuses open
• Weber State University

Traffic

The Utah Department of Transportation urged drivers to delay their travel on Wednesday until 10 a.m. due to road conditions. The Cottonwood canyons expect to see 20-25 inches, according to UDOT. Big Cottonwood Canyon restrictions regarding traction devices were lifted by UDOT around 7:20 p.m.

Several crashes and slide-offs were reported Wednesday morning along freeways in the Salt Lake Valley and speeds were significantly reduced, according to the KSL Traffic Center.

By 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Utah Highway Patrol had responded to 219 crashes statewide, the agency said. Since the latest round of winter storms began on Saturday, troopers have investigated a total of 659 crashes and slide-offs.

"Please slow down well below the posted speed limit on cold, wet, slushy and/or icy roadways," UHP tweeted. "Increasing following distance beyond the required 2 seconds also gives you the added time and distance you may need to react."

State Route 190 through Big Cottonwood Canyon closed again to uphill traffic for avalanche control just before 7 a.m. but reopened just after 8 a.m.

State Route 210 through Little Cottonwood Canyon will remain closed for the rest of the day Wednesday, UDOT said, and there is no estimated reopening time for Thursday. All driving restrictions have been lifted for Parleys Canyon in Salt Lake County and Sardine Canyon in Cache and Box Elder counties.

Chains or four-wheel drive are no longer required for vehicles in Sardine Canyon, but winter driving conditions still exist, according to Cache County emergency dispatchers. People driving in all canyons are asked to use caution due to the severe winter driving conditions, UDOT said.

Other closures include Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive in Zion National Park, which is closed due to ice and snow.

A crash on southbound I-15 temporarily forced all traffic off the highway at 500 East in American Fork, according to UDOT, but the crash was cleared by 1:45 p.m.

People were asked to work from home if possible, and to slow down and wear a seat belt if they must drive, UHP said. People were also asked to make sure their tires are appropriate for snowy weather before heading out on the roads, the agency added.

Two UDOT workers on a Cottonwood canyons crew narrowly avoided being caught in an avalanche in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Wednesday, but both are safe, according to UDOT spokesperson John Gleason. The workers were preparing to get out of a UDOT truck to get into a snowcat when both vehicles got hit by a natural avalanche, Gleason said.

Airport

Salt Lake City International Airport crews worked to clear snow from the airport Wednesday morning, officials said. Passengers are asked to check with their airlines for delays or cancellations and to plan extra travel time, airport officials said.

According to a 2:30 p.m. tweet by Salt Lake City International Airport, 17 flights had been canceled, 71 had been delayed; 19 flights into the airport had been canceled, and 34 flights into Salt Lake had been delayed.

TRAX

All TRAX trains were running on their regular schedule Wednesday morning, but commuters were asked to remember to plan extra time and dress for the cold weather, UDOT said.

Weather

A winter storm warning was in effect until around 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City. Mountainous areas were expected to see up to 16 inches. Sandy was forecast to get 6 to 10 inches of snow and Salt Lake City was forecast see up to 6 inches of snow.

The Town of Alta's maximum security interlodge order was lifted as of 11:22 a.m. but a standard interlodge order is still in effect, according to the Alta Town Marshal. People we asked to remain inside public or private buildings due to avalanche risk. Around 11 a.m. Thursday, the interlodge was lifted.

Snowbird Village wass also under an interlodge order as of 1:15 p.m., according to resort officials. Snowbird will not be open for skiing or riding Wednesday.

The backcountry terrain closure for all areas north of Little Cottonwood Creek from Gate B to Grizzly Gulch has been extended due to extreme avalanche hazards, UDOT said. The closure extends 1,000 meters into Big Cottonwood Canyon and 100 feet over Twin Lakes Pass. It is estimated to reopen about 8 a.m. Thursday.

Avalanche danger is rated extreme for all aspects and elevations in the Salt Lake-area mountains Wednesday, according to the Utah Avalanche Center. People are urged to avoid being near or under any steep slopes.

Avalanche danger is rated high for all other Utah mountains, except the Abajos and Moab-area mountains in southeast Utah, where avalanche danger is rated considerable, according to the avalanche center.

COVID-19 vaccine appointments

All Salt Lake County COVID-19 vaccine appointments for Wednesday have been moved to Sunday, Feb. 21, at the same exact appointment times and locations as Wednesday. People who cannot make their new appointment date can call the Salt Lake County Health Department at 385-468-7468 to reschedule for another time.

Several free rapid antigen test sites canceled or delayed openings due to weather, according to the Utah Department of Health.

Closed Wednesday

• Davis County: 5-C Freeport West, Clearfield
• Salt Lake County: Maverik Center, Lot D, 2050 W. 3100 South, West Valley City

Delayed

• Salt Lake County: Cannon Health Building, 288 N. 1460 West, Salt Lake City, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Register here.
• Sevier County: Central Utah Public Health Department, 70 Westview Drive, Richfield (drive-through). Wednesday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Thursday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.
• St. George: The Southwest Utah Public Health Department announced that due to the severe weather vaccines intended for Thursday's scheduled vaccinations that were supposed to arrive were delayed. The rescheduled vaccinations will occur at the St. George Active Life Center at 245 N. 200 W. The health departments ask those listed to arrive within their assigned time and bring a Feb. 18 confirmation along with ID, proof of local residency, and signed consent form. The Feb. 18 vaccine clinic has been rescheduled as follows: Last names A-G: Tuesday, Feb. 23 (A: Walk-in between 8:30-9:30 a.m.; B: 9:30-10:30 a.m.; C: 10:30-11:30 a.m.; D: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; E: 12:30-1:30 p.m.; F: 1:30-2:30 p.m.; G: 2:30-3:30 p.m.). Last names H-P: Thursday, Feb. 25 (H: Walk-in between 8:30-9:30 a.m.; I-J: 9:30-10:30 a.m.; K: 10:30-11:30 a.m.; L: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; M: 12:30-1:30 p.m.; N: 1:30-2:30 p.m.; O-P: 2:30-3:30 p.m.). Last names Q-Z: Saturday, Feb. 27 (Q-R: Walk-in between 8:30-9:30 a.m.; S: 9:30-10:30 a.m.; T: 10:30-11:30 a.m.; U-V: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; W-Z: 1:30-2:30 p.m. According to the department, appointments made for vaccine clinics on other dates should be unaffected.
• Weber County: The Weber-Morgan Health Department delayed all COVID-19 vaccination appointments scheduled for Feb. 18, to Monday, Feb. 22 due to weather delays that have delayed vaccine shipments. All appointment times and locations of the clinic will move to Monday at the same time and at the Dee Events Center on the campus of Weber State University.

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