This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Utah's weekend forecast: Ecstasy for legions of skiers and snowboarders heading to the mountains, agony for motorists and valley residents awakening to icy wet roads and sidewalks.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for northern Utah from Logan running south through Ogden, Salt Lake City and Provo to Nephi, and northeast into the western Uintas. Cold valley rain and mountain snow are expected to develop Saturday morning, before temperatures drop to near freezing with darkness and turn the precipitation to snow. North winds will add to the frozen mess, drifting snow on roads throughout the region.
The widespread snow will continue into Sunday morning before becoming scattered in the afternoon and evening, meteorologist Monica Traphagen said in a weather advisory. The series of storms reaches its finale Monday morning, when one last burst of snow arrives, then tapers off in the afternoon.
"And there is some potential for lake-enhanced snow showers Sunday morning and Monday morning," Traphagan said, which would mainly affect areas southeast of the Great Salt Lake. "But don't let that scare you. It won't be anything like Buffalo."
By Monday morning, meteorologists expect 1 to 2 feet of the white stuff to blanket the mountains, with locally higher amounts in the Cottonwood canyons. The benches could see 2 to 6 inches, while northern and central valley floors could see one to four inches.
Southern Utahns will observe all this in the relative comfort of a little Saturday night rain, but daytime temperatures will be in a balmy range, the low to mid-60s. Overnight lows are forecast to be in the mid- to upper 30s.
The risk of avalanches is expected to rise rapidly Saturday with all the possible snowfall, with that danger persisting through at least Monday, according to the Utah Avalanche Center. An avalanche watch is in effect for northern Utah's mountains.
"I expect the avalanche danger on Saturday and through the weekend to be high, especially on upper elevation, northerly facing slopes," said avalanche forecaster Bruce Tremper. "I would urge everyone to just avoid avalanche terrain in the backcountry this weekend."
Ironically, the slopes with enough pre-existing snow that are steep enough to ski or snowboard "are exactly the same slopes that could produce a dangerous avalanche after the storm loads them up with a significant amount of new snow," according to a statement from the avalanche center.
Storms do help air quality, however. Much of the Wasatch Front began Friday with "moderate," or comprised breathing conditions due to building pollution, but all regions were expected to be flying "green," or healthy air quality banners through the weekend.
For more extensive forecast information, visit The Tribune's weather page at: http://www.sltrib.com/weather.
Twitter: @remims, @mikeypanda Utah Department of Transportation winter driving alert •
For Northern Utah:
Valley Routes:
Valley roads in the Cache Valley and along the Wasatch Front will run wet from rain showers beginning early Saturday morning and continuing throughout the afternoon. Motorists and drivers of high profile vehicles should watch for strong south-southwest wind gusts 40-50 mph, especially along I-80 west of Salt Lake City, US-89 through Sardine Summit (west of Logan), I-84 northwest of Brigham City, and SR-30, during the day Saturday. A cold front will push through the northern half of the state late Saturday afternoon and evening, lowering snow levels and bringing sporadic periods of snow showers for all Northern Utah valley routes. Periods of road slush/snow and gusty northwest winds will impact travel on valley routes Saturday night through Sunday and Monday.
Mountain Routes:
Mountain snow will begin Saturday morning and continue into the afternoon for the Bear River Range, Wasatch Range, and Western Uinta Mountains. Periods of road snow/slush are expected on some mountain routes during the day Saturday, including US-89 over Logan Summit, SR-158 to Powder Mountain, the upper portions of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons (SR-190 & SR-210), and US-40 through Daniels Summit (southeast of Heber City). A cold front will push through the northern half of the state late Saturday afternoon and evening, lowering snow levels, and bringing road snow to all northern mountain routes, including I-80 through Parley's Summit, from Saturday night through Sunday and Monday. Some mountain routes will experience periods of heavy road snow through the forecast period. Significant blowing and drifting snow is also expected over some mountain routes through the forecast period, with the greatest threat at Logan Summit (US-89), Powder Mountain (SR-158), and Daniels Summit (US-40).
For Central/Southern Utah:
Valley Routes:
Valley corridors, including I-15 from Cedar City northward and US-89 through Mt. Pleasant to Panguitch, will run wet from late morning Saturday through Saturday evening under any rain showers. Motorists and drivers of high profile vehicles should watch for strong westerly wind gusts 45-55+ mph, especially along SR-10 between Price and Freemont Junction, Saturday night and Sunday. A cold front Saturday night will change rain showers to snow, impacting valley roads with slush and periods of road snow Sunday and Monday.
Mountain Routes:
Intermittent snow showers will begin in the central and southern mountains, including the Wasatch Plateau, late Saturday morning into Saturday afternoon. A cold front will allow snow levels to drop Saturday night. Periods of road snow/slush and blowing snow will be a threat for many central/southern mountain routes, including I-70 through Clear Creek Summit and Ivie Creek Summit, US-6 between Spanish Fork and Price, and SR-20 Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The best threat for heavy road snow and blowing/drifting snow will be over SR-31 between Fairview and Huntington Saturday night through Sunday and Monday.