Gale Force.JPG GALE FORCE WARNING WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THURSDAY... A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THURSDAY. * AFFECTED AREA: THE CACHE VALLEY...THE WASATCH FRONT INCLUDING OGDEN...SALT LAKE CITY AND PROVO AND THE GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT, GREAT SALT LAKE AND MOUNTAINS. * SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: TOTAL ACCUMULATION OF 4 TO 10 INCHES IS EXPECTED ON THE VALLEY FLOORS WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS ALONG THE NORTHERN WASATCH FRONT...SOUTHERN SALT LAKE COUNTY AND ACROSS UTAH COUNTY. TOTAL ACCUMULATION OF 8 TO 14 INCHES ON THE BENCHES IS EXPECTED. TOTAL ACCUMULATION OF 4 TO 8 INCHES IS EXPECTED IN THE GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT AND MOUNTAINS. * TIMING: SNOW...MIXED WITH OR CHANGING OVER TO RAIN ALONG THE VALLEY FLOORS...WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS MORNING. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING AS THE COLD FRONT CROSSES THE AREA. PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO THE DAY THURSDAY BEFORE TAPERING OFF. * SNOW LEVELS: SNOW LEVELS MAY RISE ABOVE THE VALLEY FLOORS TO AROUND 5000 FEET THIS MORNING...BEFORE QUICKLY FALLING BACK TO THE VALLEY FLOORS THIS AFTERNOON. * WINDS: SOUTH WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 50 MPH WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. WINDS WILL ALSO BE GUSTY FROM THE NORTHWEST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT THROUGH THIS EVENING. * IMPACTS: PASSES ALONG I-80 WILL LIKELY REMAIN SNOWPACKED THROUGH TONIGHT...AND TRAVELERS ALONG I-80 SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS. SNOWFALL THIS MORNING WILL LIKELY IMPACT THE MORNING COMMUTE ALONG THE BENCHES. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL LIKELY OCCUR IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS EVENINGS COMMUTE. MOTORISTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ESPECIALLY SLICK CONDITIONS AS EARLIER SNOW MAY CAUSE ICY CONDITIONS ON THE ROADWAYS. THIS ICE WILL BE COVERED WITH ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL DURING THE COMMUTE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS A MIXTURE OF HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. DRIVING CONDITIONS MAY BE HAZARDOUS. USE CAUTION. BE PREPARED FOR SUDDEN RESTRICTIONS IN VISIBILITY DUE TO BLOWING SNOW. KEEP A WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. FOR WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS FROM THE UTAH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION VISIT...HTTP://WWW.COMMUTERLINK.UTAH.GOV OR DIAL 511. Dave Shearer Harbormaster Great Salt Lake State Marina 801-209-9142
