The blizzard was a slow-moving low-pressure mass that came up from Southern California, where it caused deadly mudslides. Forecasters said the storm would end by late Friday or early today, with lake-effect snow likely today.

Power outages were widespread but spotty along the Wasatch Front, Utah Power spokeswoman Barbara Kessler said, primarily due to broken tree limbs and cars sliding off the road into power poles. Power had been restored to about 42,000 by Friday evening, with another 28,000 unfortunates remaining in the dark.

Friday morning, Sugar House resident Scott Phillips' living room was at 56 degrees and he and his wife were pacing the house wearing wool and fleece coats to keep warm.

"I have to keep moving to stay warm," he said. "They say you can go down to zero and still be OK. We'll see."

Kessler said she expected power to be restored to most residents by late Friday or today. In the meantime, emergency officials said residents should keep flashlights and blankets handy and use candles and gas-burning heaters or stoves, employing caution and proper ventilation.

Accidents and injuries

Freeways, arterials and side streets alike were snowpacked Friday as snowplow crews frantically tried to keep up with the storm, resulting in numerous accidents. By late evening, more than 975 accidents had been reported statewide to the Utah Highway Patrol. The brunt of those accidents were in Salt Lake and Davis counties, 342 and 310 respectively.

Area hospitals also had a high number of emergency room visits related to snow-blower injuries. University Medical Center had four cases Friday, including hand lacerations and finger amputations.

"Do not put your hand in a snow blower," said Anne Brillinger, hospital spokeswoman.

The evening commute proved to be worse than the morning, officials said, since falling temperatures created even more slippery conditions.

Several UTA buses slid off the road, and tree branches falling on TRAX lines near 3000 South caused delays.

Residents and city crews alike found themselves repeatedly shoveling the same place.

"I and B streets (main thoroughfares in Salt Lake City's Avenues) have been plowed at least a dozen times," Salt Lake director of streets and sanitation Craig Posselli said Friday afternoon. "We're doing the best we can for the amount of snow we've been receiving."

Officials continually urged motorists to slow down and drive carefully.

Those relatively few people who went to work routinely found their commute times doubled or tripled. Drivers in Sardine Canyon between Brigham City and Logan reported having to creep along at 10 miles per hour.

'Epic ski conditions'