"The whole west desert looks like it's giving us a lot of stuff," Bott said. "This is not uncommon in the spring when these vigorous cold fronts come in after things dry out."
Saturday's winds preceded a slow-moving front approaching Utah from the northwest. The front was expected to pass over Salt Lake by early today, ushering wind changes that should clean out the valley's choked air.
Like Tuesday's dust event, Saturday's windstorm followed pleasant weather that brought people into Salt Lake Valley's parks to enjoy the arrival of spring. The Department of Environmental Quality issued a "red" air quality alert for Salt Lake, Weber and Davis counties Saturday afternoon as dust concentrations obliterated Salt Lake City's skyline and mountain vistas and choked the air with dangerous levels of particulates.
Fortunately for thousands of runners, the Salt Lake City Marathon was winding down by the time the breathing conditions became unhealthy. Public health officials recommended people avoid strenuous exercise outdoors and those with vulnerable respiratory systems were advised to stay indoors.
While strong gusts and poor visibility complicated driving conditions, Utah Highway Patrol reported no weather-related accidents on Wasatch Front freeways.
Today is expected to be cool and damp, with highs in the upper 40s, 20 mph winds out of the northwest and a 30 percent chance of snow.
bmaffly@sltrib.com
