Storm cuts power to 13,000 homes

Rain, wind and some snow knocked out electrical power to about 13,000 homes and businesses in Salt Lake neighborhoods Sunday. But forecasters say that storm was peanuts compared to the one it preceded.

Sunday night, KSL weather producer Brent Bourgeous said the storm that was set to hit around midnight would deliver several inches of snow, "especially right along the Wasatch Front southeast of the (Great Salt) lake."

Unless snowplows were able to keep the roads clear, this morning's commute seemed likely to be "real messy" with many accidents, he added. Precipitation was continuing in southwestern Utah also.

Chris Gibson, meteorologist with the National Weather Service forecast office on North Temple, said strong south winds buffeted northern Utah Sunday morning as the front moved through. "We had about a quarter of an inch to as much as half an inch of rain, and snow was up to about an inch on the benches," he said.

Ski resorts were celebrating 5 to 8 inches of new snow.

Not celebrating were the 1,300 homes and businesses in Rose Park, Capitol Hill and the Avenues neighborhoods that lost power Sunday because of the storm.

Also, 300 in Midvale were temporarily deprived of electricity when debris started a fire on a cross arm of a power pole. "Snow and rain will wash contamination into insulators," said Utah Power spokeswoman Margaret Kesler.

Another 100 in West Valley City lost power for up to 2-1/2 hours after a vehicle hit a pole around 6:55 p.m. Sunday, pulling down power lines.

"The morning commute's going to be bad," warned Gibson, speaking of the Monday drive to work. Heavy snow warnings were posted from just south of Ogden to Provo.

"We're expecting a direct hit" from the storm, he added. Temperatures will hover around 30 during the snowstorm, probably not rising above 35 all day.

If residents put off shoveling the white stuff until Tuesday, they may be disappointed to find it hardened over. Tuesday should be a cold day, Gibson said.

Scattered showers and clouds are expected late Wednesday and that night.