An avalanche had blocked Provo Canyon on the morning of Friday. The crew is now working so as to clear the roads because of the avalanche. Also, the American Fork Canyon was blocked because of a rock slide.
Moreover, along the Wasatch Front, a number of traffic accidents have took place because of the rain and snow.
Avalanche at Provo Canyon
Utah Department of Transportation crews had triggered the avalanche at Provo Canyon at about 6 in the evening. The avalanche has brought down about 30 feet of snow.
This is on the SR 189, above the Bridal Veil Valley at the mile marker 12. The avalanche was triggered by the crew after the canyon had been closed for traffic.
The Office of Sheriff of Wasatch County reported on Friday that they have opened an alternative route which goes around the avalanche. However, the traffic is intermittent and therefore the commute of the traffic will be much slower.
Rockslide at American Fork Canyon
On Thursday night, a rock had slide at the mile marker 26. This had brought down hundreds of boulders onto the road. The SR192 was opened again through the American Fork Canyon on Friday.
However, the Little Cottonwood has been scheduled to open to remain close till 10 am of Friday. According to Utah Department of Transportation, this closing is for the mitigation of the avalanche.
On Friday in the Carbon County, the schools had remained closed because of the snow.
Warnings of National Weather Services
According to the National Weather Services, there is a warning of the winter storm. This winter storm will be in effect until 5 pm of Friday along the Wasatch Front. There could be additional 3-7 inches of snow as well as slippery roads which will be snow packed.
There is also a possibility of 1-4 inches of snow in the valley. However, more of it will be on the benches.
On Thursday, the National Weather Service had recorded about 0.76 inches of rain at the Salt Lake International Airport. This is as of record for the 17th of January.
Through Monday, there is a warning of an avalanche as well. The danger in the back-country will be comparatively higher, according to the Utah Avalanche Center.
The avalanches could be both human triggered as well as natural. This is because of the dangerous conditions that will be created as a result of heavy snow as well as strong winds.
Experts have recommended people to avoid slopes which are steep. However, this warning is not applicable to ski areas. This is because of the avalanche hazard reduction measures that have already been taken in these areas.
Predictions of snow on Monday morning, in the valleys, are also made. According to NWS, as the storm exits to the east, rain, as well as snow, will taper off by the afternoon of Friday.
Source: The Salt Lake Tribune, ABC4
