This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Heavier-than-expected snowfall covered much of Utah Saturday as a storm system struck the region.
Northern Utahns awoke to a blanket of white up to 6.5 inches deep along the Wasatch Front's valley and bench locales, respectively, while mountain totals for new snow were about 4 inches, according to the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City International Airport recorded 3.9 inches of snow. Parts of Davis County picked up the most snowfall, however, with West Bountiful recording 6.5 inches; Centerville, picking up 6 inches; and Farmington showing 5.7 inches. For skiers, Alta reported that 4.3 inches of new powder fell; Snowbird, 4 inches; and Big Cottonwood Spruces, Solitude and Park City, 1.5 inches.
But with the new snow came elevated risks for dangerous snow slides. The weather service issued an avalanche warning Saturday for mountain areas from Logan through Milford. The Utah Avalanche Center gave a "red" or high-risk grade to the western Uintas, Salt Lake City, Provo and Manti-Skyline districts, while Logan's mountains earned an "orange" or considerable avalanche risk rating. Moab, in southeastern Utah, was given a "green" or low risk grade.
Fog, though patchy in some areas, was expected Sunday into Monday in most parts of northern Utah.
The storms were clearing the air, however, with the Utah Division of Environmental Quality raising the "green" or healthy air quality flag statewide. That rating was expected to extend at least through Monday.
Temperatures Sunday and Monday were expected to be in the mid-30s in northern Utah, while southern Utahns were forecast to escape the snowfall and foggy conditions and see highs in the low- to mid-50s.
Salt Lake City's high temperatures were forecast at 34 and 37 degrees Sunday and Monday, respectively; 32 and 36 for Ogden; Provo, 35 and 38; Logan, 31 and 33; Wendover 32 both days; Duchesne, 26 and 29; Cedar City, 34 and 42; St. George, 52 and 55; and Moab, 43 and 42 degrees.