Winter Weather Slams Northern Utah Canyons
Apr 14, 2021, 11:50 AM | Updated: 1:48 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Winter road conditions returned to canyons across Utah Wednesday, with several areas seeing snow-covered roadways, icy conditions and multiple crashes and slide-offs.
Officials with the Utah Department of Transportation said crews were responding to multiple crashes in both directions along Interstate 80, while I-84 and U.S. Highway 40 saw snowy and icy conditions.
Logan Canyon was closed Wednesday afternoon due to multiple slide-offs while Big Cottonwood Canyon was temporarily closed due to a crash involving a bus at the S-Turn.
Logan Canyon is closed at 1st dam due to weather. Please be safe out there! #mothernature #springinutah
— LCPD 9-1-1 Dispatch (@Logan_Cache_911) April 14, 2021
An early morning crash closed westbound I-80 at the mouth of Parleys Canyon, forcing traffic to divert onto I-215.
State troopers said the truck driver fell asleep before the crash.
TRAFFIC ⚠️: Westbound I-80 is CLOSED at the mouth of Parley's Canyon due to a crash involving a semi-truck.@UTHighwayPatrol says traffic will be diverted to I-215 for 2-3 hours while they clean up the mess. #KSLTV
Details: https://t.co/nJE5BkYclA pic.twitter.com/MuhTHpkfLi
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) April 14, 2021
Westbound I-84 was also closed due to a jackknifed semi-truck. Those lanes reopened around 7:30 a.m.
All eastbound I-80 vehicles are required to use approved traction devices, while semis must use traction devices while traveling westbound.
The traction law was also put into effect in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons on Wednesday.
In Cache County, officials said whiteout conditions could exist as storms move through Logan and Sardine canyons.
So … this is how the zombie apocalypse starts? 🧟 https://t.co/vSXwQFcWDW
— Utah State University (@USUAggies) April 14, 2021
A high wind warning was in effect through noon across northern Utah. Power crews responded to multiple outages but no severe damage was reported.
Gusts of 84 mph and 86 mph were reported in Weber Canyon, while Park Lane in Farmington saw a 79 mph gust Wednesday.