Storm dumps snow over entire state, causes traffic snarls, Southern Utah road closure

Written by Ric Wayman
February 19, 2018
Snow Canyon covered in snow, Ivins, Utah, Feb. 19, 2018 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A winter storm that’s already dropped more than a foot of snow on some parts of Utah and snarled traffic, including a road closure in Southern Utah, is expected to continue through President’s Day.

State Route 143 at about milepost 13. Iron County, Utah, Feb. 19, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Utah Department of Transportation, St. George News

The National Weather Service reports the snow that started overnight had blanketed the mountains by Monday morning and left 9 inches or more in lower-elevation cities south of Salt Lake, like Sandy and Orem. The valley in northern Utah’s Logan area saw up to a foot, and meteorologist Monica Traphagan says central and Southern Utah are also getting hit.

Driving conditions in Iron County have been bad as a result, with numerous cars and trucks reported to have spun off the road, including sections of Interstate 15. Snow is heavy north of Cedar City and plows are out in force. State Route 143 is closed from milepost 17 just past Brian Head to milepost 27, according to the UDOT website, and motorists are being advised to find an alternate route.

A wind advisory issued Monday morning isn’t helping matters.

Interstate 15 looking northbound at milepost 42 by New Harmony, Utah. Feb. 19, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Utah Department of Transportation, St. George News

In Washington County, snow has been reported in Santa Clara, Kanab and even parts of St. George. Northbound Interstate 15 is seeing snow starting at about milepost 42, according to UDOT’s cameras, although plows have been keeping the roads clear.

Traphagan says chilly temperatures forecast for Monday night could extend morning commute problems on Tuesday as people return to work from the President’s Day weekend.

Though the new accumulation will help a below-average snowpack, she says Utah will need more to get up to normal.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Do you have pictures of snow in your area? Send them to [email protected]

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

"I wrote my first word when I was very young. I enjoyed this so much I decided to write many more words." A native of Pacific Palisades, Calif., Ric was bitten by the news bug as a staff writer and associate editor of the Palisades High School Tideline. After school he entered the media as a radio personality, both playing music and reporting news. Ric moved to St. George in the 1980s and was the morning personality on all three major AM stations in town. An avid amateur radio operator, Ric is looking for a good band to play in, as he plays keyboards, bass and guitar. Ric, who currently is working on developing a lifestyle that doesn't require his presence, lives in the center of St. George with his partner Terri, two snoring dogs and too many neurotic cats.

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3 Comments

  • mesaman February 19, 2018 at 8:27 pm

    More than the typically outstanding photography, this display is one of the finest pictorial efforts in the history of St George News. I applaud the photographer for his creative efforts. Thank you.

  • SteveSGU February 19, 2018 at 8:45 pm

    Kanab is not in Washington County.

    And yes, the photos were nice.

  • Happy Day February 20, 2018 at 7:26 am

    I don’t know Kim Raham, but calendar quality pictures.

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