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With more storms in sight, Utah County maintenance crews prepare for string of wet weather

By Curtis Booker - | Dec 27, 2024
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A vehicle traveling east in wet conditions near the entrance of American Fork Canyon along state Route 92 is shown Friday, Dec. 27, 2024.
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A snowplow truck sits in a Utah Department of Transportation lot in Lehi on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024.

For those looking to enjoy the snow during this holiday weekend in Utah Valley, you’ll likely have to travel into the higher elevations to find it, according to the National Weather Service.

But residents and drivers shouldn’t expect bone dry weather conditions either.

Portions of northern and central Utah will experience a string of storms throughout the weekend.

Utah County residents woke up to a blanket of snow Thursday, and while conditions were far from severe, the storm was enough to get the snowplows and salt trucks out on the highways, major roads and arterials for most of the morning and into the afternoon.

It also prompted increased danger for avalanches in the backcountry.

Monica Traphagan, a senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Salt Lake City office, said storms will linger throughout the weekend.

The county largely experienced rain and wet conditions on the roads Friday, with much of the same expected for most of Saturday.

“We do have two storm systems that are coming, one Friday and one Saturday, but they’re pretty mild in nature and got a lot of moisture with them,” Traphagan said.

“For Saturday in the mountains, we’re going to see some significant snow. So if people have plans in the mountains, there will be significant travel difficulties, and they’ll be seeing a lot of snow up there,” she noted.

The NWS says Sunday will start off dry, but another storm is anticipated to move into the region by late afternoon and into the evening.

“We’re going to see a colder storm system that’s going to bring the potential for snow to the Utah Valley,” Traphagan said.

While Traphagan didn’t give exact snow total projections regarding that storm, she offered a warning to drivers: “For those commuting on Monday, there could be some issues,” she said.

Though conditions for people traveling in the lower elevations across Utah County will be mostly moderate throughout the weekend, state and individual city road maintenance crews remain committed to preparing for wintry circumstances.

“Our crews were hard at work ahead of the storms and continue to plow and salt the roads to ensure safer travel,” said Wyatt Woolley, Utah Department of Transportation Region 3 spokesperson, in an email.

In Provo, the Public Works Department also is keeping a close eye on changing conditions.

“Right now, all of our crews are on standby, and we’re just watching over the next three or four days as the storms come and go,” Public Works Director Gordon Haight told the Daily Herald.

He says they’ll closely monitor forecasts and will deploy crews and snowplow trucks as needed.

Additionally, he said there is a need to keep roads safe even if it rains, as cold nights can lead to ice.

“Even if there’s just a small storm, we find that the benches generally need to have some clearing and (will need to be) salted even if the snow doesn’t stick, just so we can prevent ice on the road,” Haight explained.

Provo, along with many other cities in Utah County, has an ordinance prohibiting residents from parking on the street in residential neighborhoods after a snowstorm.

“It makes it really challenging for us to get the street plowed and to get by safely, to make sure we’re providing services,” Haight said.

In case of a snowstorm, Provo and UDOT officials both urge residents to give snowplow operators the necessary space and time to effectively clear the roadways.

“Your safety–and the safety of everyone on the road–depends on patience and courtesy,” Woolley said.