Warnings, advisories issued as incoming storm could cause Utah travel headaches

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's snowpack has received a welcomed boost over the past week, and some areas could receive moisture from at least one more storm before warmer and drier conditions return.

It could also cause some commute headaches across the Wasatch Front and northern Utah.

The National Weather Service issued a series of winter weather advisories, stating that some mountain areas could receive close to a foot of snow or more by Thursday night.

Valley communities could also receive heavy snow in some areas, which prompted a winter storm warning to be issued for the northern Wasatch Front. Advisories were issued for several other valley communities, where snow may cause issues during Thursday morning's commute.

Storm timing

The latest storm is moving in from the Pacific Northwest. KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson said some light snow showers are possible Wednesday afternoon and evening, but the brunt of the system is expected to arrive in northern Utah between late Wednesday and early Thursday.

It's forecast to expand through the Wasatch Front and central Utah by about the start of the morning commute, either coming down as rain or snow. Precipitation is expected to remain in place throughout those areas between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.

"There are some discrepancies between models. Some are saying, 'It's going to be warm enough to support rain.' Some are saying snow. We've got that freezing line right above the valley floor," he said. "It'll be a tricky one, but count on wet roads."

Scattered showers are forecast throughout the first half of Thursday, but those are expected to die down by the evening. Johnson added that some lingering showers are possible afterward, but it will be mostly cleared out by Friday morning.

Storm accumulations

The advisories state that 5 to 10 inches of snow could fall across the Wasatch, West Uinta and central mountains by early Friday, while higher totals closer to 15 inches are possible in the upper Cottonwood canyons.

The Weather Service's warning covers the northern Wasatch Front, including Bountiful and Ogden, where 4 to 7 inches of snow is possible — and higher in eastern bench areas. A similar warning was also issued for southwest Wyoming.

Other communities along the Wasatch Front, Tooele Valley and northern Utah could receive 1 to 4 inches — depending on the snow line. East-bench portions of those areas could receive up to 6 inches, while parts of the Wasatch Back could also receive the same.

Johnson said weather models have started to lean toward heavier water totals. KSL Weather models indicate the storm also has the potential to deliver as much as 0.20 to 0.80 inches across the Wasatch Front and northern Utah. Areas near Ogden and Brigham City have higher probabilities for the strongest precipitation, while areas across central and eastern Utah could receive up to about 0.18 inches.

"This great news," he said, pointing to the state's dry conditions.

Storm impacts

While valley snow totals might be relatively small, it could be impactful because it's projected to come down Thursday morning. Johnson pointed to dozens of crashes and slide-offs from another storm last week as a reminder of what can happen when snow falls during major commuting times.

Utah Department of Transportation officials say "moderate" travel impacts are expected across most valley areas, especially during the Thursday morning commute. The agency also urges drivers to prepare for "high" caution while traveling through mountain passes like the Cottonwood canyons, Sardine Canyon and parts of the Wasatch Back.

The incoming storm figures to boost Utah's snowpack even further, as it follows storms over the past holiday weekend. Utah's statewide snowpack average is now up to 10.3 inches of snow-water equivalent, which is 92% of the median average for this point in the year. It's also close to two-thirds of the median peak for an entire season.

It's boosted by five snowpack basins — all within Utah's northern half — that had running totals at or above 100% as of Tuesday afternoon. While central and southern Utah also received a welcomed boost over the past week, many of its basins remained between 39% and 83% on Tuesday.

Milder conditions return

However, it doesn't appear there will be more to pad those numbers — at least in the near term.

Drier conditions are forecast for the weekend, while high temperatures are currently forecast to reach the mid- to upper-50s across the Wasatch Front and northern Utah by the start of next week. High temperatures are expected to return to the 70s in St. George, as well.

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center projects Utah has a strong probability to end the month — and meteorological winter — with above-normal warmth and below-normal precipitation. That could linger into the start of March, but "near normal" precipitation could also return by early March.

Full seven-day forecasts for areas across Utah can be found online, at the KSL Weather Center.

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