Winter storm causes dozens of crashes, school closures Wednesday

SALT LAKE CITY — Severe winter weather conditions caused dozens of minor crashes and prompted numerous schools on the Wasatch Front to keep students and staff home or delay start times on Wednesday.

Utah Highway Patrol troopers warned of driving dangers earlier in the day, stating that they had responded to approximately 250 crashes statewide between midnight Tuesday and 8:30 p.m. Wednesday due to the storm. Troopers also helped drivers of 517 vehicles that slid off roads.

"Our troopers worked tirelessly through the night clearing crashes, vehicles that slid off, and stranded motorist," the Utah Highway Patrol tweeted. "It's going to be a rough morning, if you can work from home please do so or go in later."

Salt Lake police also warned of dangers on the roads as the commute began.

"If you can avoid/delay traveling until later this morning, it may be a good idea. Our graveyard and dayshift officers have been busy responding to traffic hazards such as (a) downed tree and utility line near 145 South 300 East. Please be safe," police tweeted.

The local office of the National Weather Service reported more than a foot of snow fell Wednesday in some areas of northern Utah, including Tooele, Cottonwood Heights, Millcreek, Holladay, South Jordan, West Jordan and Sandy. Wasatch Mountain ski resorts also fared well with the recent snow dump, adding up to 21 inches at Snowbird, 19 inches at Alta, and 13 inches at Solitude, according to the National Weather Service.

The barrage of winter weather traipsed across central Utah through Wednesday afternoon, though, depths were not nearly as great.

School closures and delays

Many schools along the Wasatch Front declared Wednesday a remote-learning or late-start day. Others canceled school all together.

"We encourage families to exercise their best judgment as they make decisions for their students today," Yándary Z. Chatwin, executive director of communications and community relations for the Salt Lake City district said in a written statement.

Remote-learning day

• Canyons School District
• Jordan School District
• Granite School District
• Alpine School District
• Hawthorn Academy at South and West Jordan campuses
• AMES Academy for Math Engineering and Science
• Mana Academy Charter School
• Tooele County School District (except Wendover High and Anna Smith Elementary)
• Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind
• Paradigm Schools in South Jordan
• American Preparatory Academy Charter in West Valley and Draper
• Wallace Stegner Academy campuses in Salt Lake City and West Valley City

Delayed

At Salt Lake Community College, all in-person classes before 9 a.m. began at 9 a.m. Online classes continued as usual.

One-hour delay

• Ogden School District
• Weber School District

Two-hour delay (online)

• Provo School District
• Davis School District (Kindergarten, Head Start, Early Head Start, Community Preschool and before-school programs were not held Wednesday).
• Tooele County School District (Most schools had a two-hour delayed start, with preschool and kindergarten canceled altogether. The delayed start did not apply to Wendover High, Anna Smith Elementary and Ibapah Elementary).
• Salt Lake City School District (Employees had a one-hour delay, and half-day programs held in the morning were canceled).
• Syracuse Art Academy

Beginning at 10 a.m.

• Ascent Academy in Lehi
• East Hollywood High School
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School
• North Star Academy
• Rowland Hall

Beginning at 10:30 a.m.

• Canyon Rim Academy
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School
• Juan Diego Catholic High School
• Saint John the Baptist Catholic Middle School, Draper

Judge Memorial High School had a late start for in-person finals. The Period 8 final took place from 10:35 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., with the Period 3 final from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Provo and Orem UCAS schools were delayed by two hours and began classes at 11 a.m.

Canceled

• Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy
• Prince of Peace Lutheran School
• Reed School
• St. Francis Xavier School
• Saint Andrew Catholic School
• Dancing Moose Montessori Tuition
• Carden Memorial
• Bonneville Academy in Stansbury
• Elizabeth Academy and Garfield School
• Waterford School in Sandy

No change

• Cache County School District
• Logan School District

Non-school delays

• Hill Air Force Base. All non mission-essential personnel had a one-hour delay in reporting.
• State employees who were remote work-eligible, worked remotely.

Flights delayed

Flight-monitoring website FlightAware said Salt Lake City International Airport had the most delayed and canceled flights in the nation Wednesday as the storm continued. The airport experienced departure delays an average of 45 minutes "and increasing," according to the website.

A spokeswoman for the airport told KSL NewsRadio crews moved snow from the airfield, but the airport continued to experience delays and cancellations because of the heavy snowfall.

"We're really encouraging passengers to check with their airlines to see if their flights are delayed or canceled before they come to the airport," airport spokeswoman Nancy Volmer said.

Power outages

Power outages affected nearly 5,000 people earlier in the day, but as of 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Rocky Mountain Power reported outages in Utah were affecting approximately 500 customers.

"Rocky Mountain Power is working to get every customer's electricity restored," the company said in a press update. "If your power is still out, please call us at 1-877-508-5088 or text OUT to 759677."

Rocky Mountain Power warned people to never go near fallen power lines, nor to touch anything on which a wire is resting.

"Always assume a downed line is energized. For help, call us or dial 911. Also, do not use any type of propane or other fuel to heat your home as this can cause a fire or other potentially hazardous situation," the company said.

Check commute times on the KSL Traffic Page.

Contributing: Arianne Brown, Linda Williams, Paul Nelson

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