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Storm blows into Utah on Thursday, bringing snow and clearing out pollution

A fast-moving cold front will move through the state Thursday, bringing gusty winds, followed by snow in the mountains and valleys.

Northern and central Utah can expect 1 to 2 inches in the valleys and 3 to 7 inches in the mountains Thursday night, the National Weather Service said.

The cold front will start in the west and move east, the NWS said, and some light snow may continue Friday morning in areas near and north of Ogden.

The NWS issued a hazardous weather outlook for the western two-thirds of the state, warning of strong south winds ahead of the cold front Thursday, and accumulating snow that could impact travel beginning Thursday afternoon. Travelers should especially beware on roads above 5,500 feet and along the Interstate 15 corridor through central Utah.

The outlook warns that snow may linger near the Idaho border and impact travel across mountain passes at times.

Eastern Utah is also warned that winds will pick up Thursday with gusts stronger than 35 mph at 10,000 feet and above and snow moving in before sunset.

Temperatures in the Salt Lake area will top off in the lower 40s Thursday with south winds blowing from 15 to 25 mph and gusts about 30 mph. The chance of snow is 80 percent.

Overnight, temperatures will drop into the mid-20s with a 50 percent chance of snow. Friday is expected to be partly sunny with highs around 40 degrees.

Residents near St. George can expect a windy day Thursday with highs in the mid-50s. South winds will rise from 10 to 20 mph late in the morning to 15 to 25 mph with gusts around 35 mph in the late afternoon. Lows overnight will be about 30 degrees, and Friday will be sunny with highs in the lower 50s.

Avalanche conditions are moderate near Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake, Provo, Skyline, Moab and Abajo, the Utah Avalanche Center said. The risk for avalanches is considerable near the Uintas.

Air quality conditions Thursday are moderate across much of the state, including Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Weber, Box Elder, Cache, Tooele, Duchesne and Uintah counties, the Division of Air Quality says, while Washington and Carbon counties have good air. The storm Thursday night will clear out pollution, leaving air quality across the state good on Friday.