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by Danielle MacKimm, KUTV
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SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — As precipitation continued across Utah, transportation officials warned drivers about hazardous road conditions expected to last through Friday evening.
According to the Utah Department of Transportation, snow showers would persist across much of the state through Friday morning, with mountain routes facing significant impacts.
Lower elevation areas, including the I-15 corridor through northern Utah, would experience minor road slush through 9 a.m. Particularly affected areas include the Wasatch Front east benches, Point of the Mountain, and Tooele east bench, as well as Cache Valley and much of eastern Box Elder County.
Drivers traveling the I-15 corridor from the SR-20/Beaver area north to Scipio were advised to anticipate slush and road snow, with the Cove Fort area likely to see the worst conditions.
Officials said mountain routes throughout Utah would continue to experience road snow, which could be heavy at times. The upper Cottonwoods, Manti Skyline mountain routes, and US-191 summit in the Uinta Mountains were expected to see the greatest impacts, with several more inches of road snow possible throughout the day.
By 9 a.m., temperatures were expected to be warm enough for most valley routes to run wet, while snow would continue in mountain areas with an unlikely chance of additional accumulation. Precipitation was forecasted to taper off during late morning and afternoon hours, potentially lingering into early evening in some mountain areas but with minimal impact.
All snow is expected to end statewide by midnight Saturday.
The full list of Utah roadways expected to endure hazardous travel conditions through 6 p.m . Friday follows below:
State Route 210 through Little Cottonwood Canyon was closed Friday morning for avalanche mitigation and road operations. The Utah Department of Transportation estimated the road would reopen by 8:30 a.m., though this time is subject to change due to weather conditions.
By 6:40 a.m., State Route 190 through Big Cottonwood Canyon was experiencing heavy slush at lower elevations and snow at mid- to upper elevations. The Traction Law was in effect. Officials advised travelers to slow down and watch for slick roads, especially around the S Curve at milepost 6.2, where snow levels increase. Drivers are urged to use caution while traveling to and from the ski resorts.
Snow showers are expected to persist in the Cottonwoods until 5 p.m. Motorists should prepare for 2 to 4 inches of snow on roads in the upper canyons and 1 to 2 inches in the lower canyons.
A significant winter storm continued to impact Utah Friday morning, prompting weather warnings for mountain areas and creating hazardous driving conditions for commuters.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for Utah's Wasatch, Uinta, and Southern Mountains until 5 p.m. Friday, where an additional 4 inches of snow is expected.
The Wasatch Back, including Park City, Heber City, and Huntsville, was placed under a Winter Weather Advisory until noon today with an additional 2 to 4 inches of snow expected to disrupt morning travel.
The weather service also extended advisories for the Tooele and Rush Valleys and Eastern Juab/Millard Counties until 11 a.m., with accumulations between 2 and 4 inches forecasted. However, portions of Tooele and the Stockton Bench area could see up to 6 inches.
The eastern benches of the Salt Lake and Utah valleys remained under a winter weather advisory until 8 a.m., with 1 to 3 additional inches expected to come down during the morning commute from Salt Lake City to Provo.
The weather also impacted the ski resorts. By the end of this storm, which formed Thursday and is expected to taper off Friday afternoon, the slopes could see total accumulations of two to three feet.
Officials warned that traction laws may be enacted on mountain routes. Travelers are advised to carry emergency supplies, including flashlights, food, and water in their vehicles.
The weather service expects conditions to improve gradually throughout Friday as the system moves eastward.
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