Snow squall storm hits Utah
Dec 27, 2021, 4:40 PM | Updated: Dec 28, 2021, 12:33 pm
Drivers in northern Utah experienced snow-covered roads on Monday afternoon. Photo credit: UDOT
SALT LAKE CITY — The latest in a series of winter storms hit Utah Monday afternoon.
Northern Utah saw the first snow from the storm at about 3:30 p.m. An hour later, many of the roads in Logan and Cache Valley were snow-covered.
“Alexa! Replay summer! Now!”
Heads up, Logan drivers! Mother Nature throwing a tantrum your way. Roads are slick & covered in snow. Use caution. pic.twitter.com/hEEGtkJbHe— Rikki Meece (@KSLRikki) December 27, 2021
By 4 p.m., the storm had begun to move south. The National Weather Service out of Salt Lake City had issued a Snow Squall Warning for parts of Davis and Weber counties. That warning was in effect until 5:45 p.m.
A snow squall warning is in effect until 4:30 PM MST for I-15, I-84, US-89, US-91 near Ogden–Layton, UT. pic.twitter.com/pTGkEZxryS
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) December 27, 2021
Another snow squall warning was issued for other parts of the state that was in effect until 6:45 p.m.
A snow squall warning is in effect until 6:45 PM MST for I-80, US-40 near Park City, UT; I-15, US-189, US-89 near Provo–Orem, UT; I-215, I-15, US-89 near Salt Lake City–West Valley City, UT and I-80 near Summit Park, UT. pic.twitter.com/oM1BwALz8D
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) December 28, 2021
What’s a snow squall?
“It’s typically associated with a strong cold front like the one we had today,” National Weather Service meteorologist Hayden Mahan told KSL.
“It moves in, and it moves out relatively quickly.”
Mahan said that a snow squall can create sudden white-out conditions and can ice up the roads in a matter of minutes.
A snow squall moved across the western part of the valley Monday evening.
Photo credit: Maria Shilaos, KSL
The NWS reports this is only the second year that they have been issuing snow squall warnings.
Monday’s was the first snow squall warning to be issued in Salt Lake City.
By 5:15 p.m., winter driving conditions were in place in Davis County.
Blizzards vs. snow squall
The NWS says blizzards are typically associated with longer-lasting storms.
Blizzards can last for hours, the NWS told KSL NewsRadio. They can still occur even without snow falling, as long as the wind is strong enough to pick up the snow on the ground.
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Storm closures
Monday evening’s storm forced the early closures of the COVID-19 testing locations at Highland High, Saratoga Springs, Davis Technical College, and the Old Workforce Services Building.
Read more:
- Another winter storm hits Utah, again
- Another winter storm is on its way to Utah making travel difficult
