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SALT LAKE CITY — Snow totals topped 2 feet in some Utah cities and peaked even higher in Utah's mountains after a massive snowstorm dropped a heavy blanket of the white stuff across much of the state over the past 24 hours.
Tooele received at least 25 inches of snow and Herriman reported 24 inches, according to the National Weather Service. West Jordan ended up with 20 inches, Brigham City got 16 inches, West Valley City had 15 inches and Provo reported 12 inches.
Salt Lake City's 17.3 inches even marked the second-most two-day total in Feburary on record, behind a storm that produced over 20 inches in February 1998, per weather service records. Meteorologists explained that they adjusted the final total because of blowing and drifting snow that messed with all new snow calculations.
Meanwhile, Sundance Mountain Resort was the big mountain winner. The resort in Provo Canyon received 43 inches of snow, while Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon also surpassed 3 feet of new snow. Six other resorts ended up with at least 2 feet of snow.
The National Weather Service lifted many of its winter storm warnings in Utah, but some warnings, particularly for southern Utah, remain in effect through Friday because of another wave of snow.
The storm resulted in numerous crashes, slide-offs and travel headaches for drivers across the state. Utah Highway Patrol troopers had responded to 230 crashes on Utah highways and freeways between midnight and Wednesday afternoon, UHP Sgt. Cameron Roden said. That's on top of more than 100 crashes on Tuesday.
Several freeways and highways across Utah were periodically closed during the afternoon for crashes to be cleared or due to avalanche danger. The Utah Transit Authority also reported that FrontRunner, TRAX and ski bus services all experienced significant delays Wednesday as a result of severe weather.
Some of the travel impacts are lingering into Thursday. The Utah Department of Transportation closed Little Cottonwood Canyon again for avalanche mitigation but that is expected to reopen to traffic again Thursday morning.
State Route 9 also remains closed at the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel because of inclement weather at Zion National Park.
Thursday school delays, closures
Some school districts, charter schools and colleges announced delays, closures and remote learning for Thursday much like Wednesday, in an effort to give snow plows time to remove snow at schools and on neighborhood streets.
Tooele County School District, Granite School District, and Jordan School District all announced Thursday that they will hold another virtual learning day.
"This will give our amazing maintenance, transportation and custodial crews time to remove the snow to make sure schools are safe for buses, students, parents, faculty and staff. Some of our communities have over 30 inches of snow with unplowed roads as city, county and state crews have worked nonstop to keep up with this relentless storm," Tooele County School District officials said in a statement.
Ascent Academy in West Jordan, Summit Academy schools, Paradigm Charter Schools and Hawthorne Academy will hold school virtually, as well.
Murray City School District, Canyons School District and Ascent Academy in Lehi will be delayed two hours on Thursday.
Morning classes have been canceled at Canyons Technical Education Center. The school's afternoon classes and sessions of preschool and kindergarten will be held as usual.
Correction: An earlier version reported classes in the Weber School District were on a two-hour delay Thursday. All schools in the district are open and buses are running at regular times.
