Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Lake effect snow created a slick and slow morning commute along the Wasatch Front.
The Utah Highway Patrol respond to 140 crashes on the state freeway's between midnight and 2:30 p.m., with the majority of incidents in Salt Lake, Tooele and northern Utah counties.
The snow prompted the Utah Department of Transportation to issue an advisory Wednesday morning, urging anyone who could delay travel to do so.
UDOT spokesman John Gleason asked anyone with flexibility in their schedule to avoid the morning commute. Snow and cold temperatures combined to create "incredibly slick conditions," with trouble spots all across the Wasatch Front.
TRAVELER ADVISORY: Wasatch Front drivers should delay travel if possible this morning. Temps in the teens and 20s combined with widespread snowfall have made roads slick. Our plows are out, but conditions are still challenging and drivers will need to use caution. pic.twitter.com/z9KCeqLVBd
— Utah DOT (@UtahDOT) February 2, 2022
From midnight through 8:30 a.m., the Utah Highway Patrol responded to 65 crashes. Troopers also responded to 51 public assists during that same time, which typically include someone who has slid off the road but did not crash into a structure or another vehicle.
Four inches of snow were forecast in some areas before the storm tapered off around 9 a.m., according to KSL meteorologist Grant Weyman. The traction law in the Cottonwood Canyons was lifted by 10 a.m.
#RoadUpdate 👋 #SR190#SR210 travelers! Road conditions are icy throughout both canyons with light snow in upper. Plows are out so please give them space. Drive w/ caution & reduce your speeds in these conditions! BCC #SR190 is the image on the left, LCC #SR210 on the right ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/qapalb6fI5
— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) February 2, 2022
Get the complete forecast at the KSL Weather Center and check commute times at the KSL Traffic Center.