This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Winter will not loosen its frosty grip on Utah Sunday, which means chilling winds and a hard freeze watch for Southern Utah.
Gusts, some exceeding 60 mph, are expected for Interstate 15 north of Leeds to Iron County, near the St. George Airport and much of western Washington County, according to the National Weather Service.
St. George will see a high of only 51 degrees Sunday, followed by 59 on Monday. But the night between will be very cold for Southern Utah, with lows dropping to negative 5 degrees in Bryce Canyon National Park, 5 degrees in Cedar City and 25 degrees in St. George.
A hard freeze watch is in effect, so the weather service advises everyone to protect their outdoor pets, turn off outdoor irrigation, remove nozzles from water lines and cover outdoor plants or bring them inside. The hard freeze forecast is expected to last into Monday morning, according to the weather service.
As for northern Utah, the frigid temperatures stick around through Sunday, with a high of only 28 degrees in Salt Lake City. Monday breaks free of the freeze, with a high of 34.
Be careful if you're considering traveling into the back country, too. The Salt Lake and Provo-area mountains are at a moderate risk for avalanches on Sunday and Monday, according to the Utah Avalanche Center. The Ogden, Logan and Uinta-area mountains are at a low risk as well.
At least the inversion has yet to set in, with the Utah Division of Air Quality forecasting healthy air statewide Sunday and Monday.
For more detailed forecast information, visit The Salt Lake Tribune's weather page.
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