Winter Weather in Salt Lake Valley, Utah

Utah Highway Patrol noted a large increase in motor vehicle accidents as a likely result of weather. While not everywhere in the Salt Lake Valley saw snow, let alone accumulating snow, some locations especially along the benches experienced periods of poor conditions. For example, a Utah Department of Transportation RWIS reported periods of deteriorated conditions from around sunrise to early afternoon, with peak snowfall rates near 2 per hour, visibility at times to near 1/4 mile (and frequently below 2 miles), and periodic slush-ups on I-215.

A trough impacted portions of the forecast area and carried enough cold air in addition to moisture to lower snow levels to yield isolated lower elevation impacts. While amounts were well below warning criteria (even for mountains), and likely even advisory for low elevations, given the holiday weekend impacts were potentially increased.