This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Arrival of a winter storm laden with heavy snow had the Utah Avalanche Center warning of elevated risks for potentially deadly mountain snowslides throughout Friday.
The center was predicting a risk level of "high," just one step below "extreme," for the Logan area's backcountry come Friday morning. Other mountain districts in Utah were at "considerable" risk, though continuing snowfall overnight and Friday morning could boost their ratings up another notch, as well.
"Heavy snowfall and intensifying westerly winds will create a rising avalanche danger," center spokesman Toby Weed stated. "Dangerous avalanche conditions will develop and become more widespread ... many areas."
Much of the northern half of Utah was under a Winter Storm Warning through Friday, with the Wasatch Mountains expected to receive 1-2 feet of new snow. Additionally, blowing and drifting snow was to only add to hazardous driving and backcountry winter recreation conditions.
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