Wet, slick roads across the Wasatch Front as atmospheric river arrives

SALT LAKE CITY — Another big storm has made its way to the Beehive State, bringing heavy rain and mountain snow with it.

National Weather Service Meteorologist, Christine Kruse told KSL Newsradio, areas along the Wasatch Front can expect to see a quarter-inch to a half-inch of rain, with room for more in some spots.

It’s Southern Utah that’s drawing the most attention, as flood watchers are keeping a close eye on Zion National Park.

Forecast rainfall and water equivalent of snowfall totals for the next 3 days. pic.twitter.com/pZBC9bEd5N

— National Weather Service (@NWS) March 14, 2023

 Kruse also said they are monitoring St. George and the Virgin River as rain and early-Spring snow runoff is becoming a cause for concern in some spots.

She’s urging people in Southern Utah to avoid major waterways and slot canyons until the weather settles.

In northern Utah, a semi carrying a hazardous load rolled on US-6 in Price Canyon Wednesday morning, blocking both directions, likely for hours according to the Utah Highway Patrol.  

A semi rollover on US-6 is blocking both directions of traffic in Price Canyon. The crash is at milepost 222 and will take about 5 hours to clear due to a hazardous load. Plan travel and avoid this route. More information will follow. pic.twitter.com/JPsauRvcRj

— Utah Highway Patrol (@UTHighwayPatrol) March 15, 2023

 

In the northern Utah mountains, UDOT crews were busy with avalanche mitigation.  These areas could get a foot to two feet of snow, especially above 8,000 feet. Areas like the Cottonwood canyons in Salt Lake County could get even more snow.

🚧 #RoadClosureUpdate 🚧
DELAYED OPENING: #SR210 CLOSED to all travel. @UDOTavy avalanche mitigation & roadway operations ongoing.

Don’t block neighborhood access while you wait.

New ETO – 9:30am@UDOTTRAFFIC @UDOTRegionTwo @AltaCentral @AltaAlerts @SnowbirdAlerts @UPDSL pic.twitter.com/jBxS2rY65b

— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) March 15, 2023

An avalanche in Logan canyon closed US 89. 

Logan Canyon, US 89, is closed for at least the next two hours while UDOT is clearing the road from an avalanche. Please adjust your travel plans accordingly.

— LCPD 9-1-1 Dispatch (@Logan_Cache_911) March 15, 2023

 

And in Summit County, cars and trucks needed traction devices for both directions of SR 224 in the area of Empire Pass.

Traction devices 

Roadway Restriction
Both Directions SR 224 MP 2 – 5(Empire Pass) Summit Co.
Approved Traction Devices Required
For updates: https://t.co/jaVMw7e9Jm

— UDOT Traffic (@UDOTTRAFFIC) March 15, 2023

 

Those who have a lot of snow around their houses should also keep an eye out for rain-on-snow flooding, though Kruse said, that risk is quickly becoming less of a concern as of Wednesday morning.