SALT LAKE CITY — After a few days of weather that gave Utah a taste of spring, storms are returning and are expected to bring intense wind to some areas of the state.
Periods of snow gave Utahns a jolt Wednesday morning, with concentrated amounts of powder in western and southern areas of Salt Lake County.
On the West Jordan bench, upwards of six inches of snow was recorded by FOX 13 meteorologist Dan Pope.
Skiers and other recreators seemed to want to take advantage of the fresh powder, with canyon traffic congestion building up Wednesday morning.
The Utah Department of Transportation warned that Little Cottonwood Canyon would experience delays due to the conditions. As of 10:45 a.m., the Snowbird parking lot was completely filled except for in-advance paid reservation spots.
#RoadUpdate 👋 #SR210 travelers! A high volume of traffic headed up this AM. Expect delays.
— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) March 13, 2024
If you’re still wanting to head up for the freshies, consider carpooling or waiting for the @RideUTA bus 🚌
Estimated traffic volumes/travel times:https://t.co/2m5yiabGi2 pic.twitter.com/umN4tTm9eE
Canyons weren't the only areas experiencing travel impacts. The Salt Lake City International Airport reported 22 delays Wednesday morning, but no cancellations.
Utah Highway Patrol reported 48 crashes as of 11:15 a.m. across Utah as roads in some areas were covered with snow.
A High Wind Watch was issued for areas of Davis and Weber counties, including Bountiful, Layton and Ogden.
The watch is in effect from midnight Thursday morning until noon on Friday, meaning it could be an entire day of very windy weather.
FOX 13's Meteorologist Chris Nunley reports a big area of low pressure will intensify, creating strong winds from East to West. The result will be gusts from Brigham City to Provo with the potential of 35-50 miles per hour.
ALERTS: stay up to date with the latest weather warnings issued across Utah
Utah's Weather Authority is especially focused on areas around North Salt Lake to Ogden as wind gusts between 55-70 mph could be recorded.
The National Weather Service added there is a 60% chance of wind gusts exceeding 60 mph from Bountiful to Ogden.
Additionally, strong gusts are expected near canyons from Parley's Canyon and northward to Tremonton.
It's still not abundantly clear just how strong winds will be as the storm develops but it's best to prepare by ensuring you have a flashlight in case of a power outage and securing loose outdoor objects.
Winds move out Friday, but Utah is also preparing for rain and snow over the next several days.
Wednesday morning, Utahns woke up to gloomy skies and drizzling conditions in the valleys while mountains got hammered with powder.
Rain switched over to snow Wednesday morning, with powder sticking to roads specifically on the West side of the Salt Lake Valley and in Utah County.
The chances for showers dwindle as the day progresses Wednesday, with the most precipitation expected to fall in the morning hours.
Anywhere between six inches and a foot of snow could hit mountain areas with up to 18 inches in the upper Cottonwoods and Tushar Range.
The heaviest snow will continue through southern and central Utah Wednesday, with storms continuing into southern areas of the state Thursday and Friday.
The Wasatch Back and far northern Utah valleys could see some snow accumulation by Wednesday afternoon, but the Wasatch Front won't see much in terms of accumulation even if a few snowflakes fall.
The storms won't let up over Utah, with showers expected to linger over southern Utah Thursday and across South Eastern Utah through Friday.
The weather should clear out by the weekend though with warmer temperatures and clear skies forecasted.
