Winter Storm Making Its Way Into Utah Could Last Days, Authorities Say
Feb 15, 2021, 5:30 AM | Updated: 8:37 am
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A “prolonged” winter storm is making its way into Utah Monday morning, and the National Weather Service has put a warning and several advisories in place.
The storm will mainly affect the Wasatch Mountains south of I-80, with an expected accumulation of 24 – 36 inches over the next couple of days. NWS has issued a winter storm warning for this area from now until 5 a.m. Wednesday.
Valley areas could begin seeing snow Monday afternoon and will continue into Tuesday.
⚠️ Incoming Winter Storm ⚠️
A prolonged Winter Storm will bring periods of light to moderate snow to the valleys with significant mountain accumulations. We have issued several Winter Weather Advisories and a Winter Storm Warning (see graphic).#utwx pic.twitter.com/yw66T0mPLS
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) February 15, 2021
A winter weather advisory has also been issued for the Great Salt Lake Desert and areas north of Ogden and I-84 and state Route 30 until 5 p.m. Monday. Authorities said that area could see between 2 – 5 inches.
In the Wasatch and Western Uintah Mountains and Book Cliffs, meteorologists have forecasted between 14 – 24 inches over several days. And the Wasatch Mountain valleys could see between 6 – 12 inches in the same period of time.
Both those areas are under a winter weather advisory until 5 a.m. Wednesday.
The Utah Avalanche Center noted that avalanche warnings are also in place for most of the state, with very dangerous conditions in many areas. With Monday’s storm, avalanche dangers could move from high to extreme.
“Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely over the next several days,” UAC posted to its Instagram page. “Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees.”
The daily avalanche forecast is posted at utahavalanchecenter.org.
Avalanche forecast for Friday, Feb. 15 (Utah Avalanche Center)
Mountains in the central and southern areas of the state are under a winter weather from noon Monday to 5 a.m. Wednesday, and those regions could get between 12 – 24 inches of snow.
The National Weather Service also warned the storm is expected to bring hazardous driving conditions to portions of I-84 and portions of I-15 from Brigham City to the Idaho border.
⚠️ Weather Alert ⚠️
Approaching winter storm will bring hazardous winter driving conditions to portions of I-84 and for portions of I-15 from Brigham City north to the ID border. Use caution when traveling.
For updated road conditions visit https://t.co/uE6Um1kK0f#utwx pic.twitter.com/o1vIBWt3p0
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) February 15, 2021
