Storm brings snow, road warnings to northern Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah – The first significant snowfall of the season fell on Saturday in the northern Utah valleys, potentially making local roads dangerous for drivers.

The National Weather Service reports that Salt Lake City received just over 1.5 inches of snow, making it the snowiest day of the slowly approaching winter season.

As the snow melted in the late morning, winter weather advisories that had been issued for the Wasatch Front, Cache Valley, and Salt Lake valleys ended at noon.

Although there was little accumulation, snow fell on the valley levels. However, more than 6 inches of snow fell locally on the benches in Salt Lake and Davis counties.

There is a road weather alert in effect through 6 p.m. on Saturday for roadways in the state’s central and northern regions.

Heavy road snow is expected in higher mountain and summit locations, with the ski resorts of Solitude and Alta reporting 17 and 18 inches of snow overnight and this morning, respectively.

Both the Big and Little Cottonwood canyons are under traction restrictions; the Utah Department of Transportation reported considerable traffic and significant snowfall, with “many vehicles struggling with conditions/slide-offs.”

Even though the snow has mostly ceased, there are still sloppy conditions on the roadways, so drivers are still advised to slow down.

On Saturday night, temperatures are expected to fall below freezing, which might lead to a problem with black ice and ice on bridges and overpasses.