Snowstorm pummels northern Utah

Monday's late winter storm that flung flurries of snow and hampered traffic may have convinced a few more Utahns to trust the Punxsutawney groundhog that predicted a cold extension to this winter.

The March storm hit northern Utah especially hard, dropping two feet of snow in several places including Hyrum, Cache County, which had previously received 3 feet during the last major storm. Brigham City received 12 inches on Monday and the storm pummeled the summit of Sardine Canyon with nearly impassable amounts of snow that left emergency personnel responding to dozens of accidents.

The Utah Highway Patrol reported several accidents and slideoffs in Cache, Box Elder and Weber counties throughout the day, but by 10 p.m. no major injuries had been reported.

Odgen's east bench received 10 inches, Layton was hit with 5 inches and although the Salt Lake Valley was dusted with scurrying flakes for most of the evening, it only amounted to a 1-to-2-inch skiff by 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The Salt Lake City International Airport stayed on schedule with less than an inch on its runways.

A slide-off by a Utah Department of Transportation snowplow Monday evening on I-70, central Utah's major east-west artery, prompted officials to shut the interstate down "until conditions get better," said UHP Sgt. Jeff Nigbur. Reopening will likely be sometime today.

"We were bracing for a much worse storm," said Nigbur. "But by morning it could start sticking (to the road) and especially get icy over bridges so people need to increase their following distance."

Late-season skiers can enjoy several more inches on most slopes, especially at Brighton, which received 15 fresh inches, and Alta, which received 12 inches, NWS data indicated.

For today, there's a 50 percent chance of afternoon snow showers with a high of 38 degrees. Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low dropping to 20 degrees. Wednesday through Friday will be mostly sunny with highs in the low 50s.

Saturday should be partly cloudy, with a high around 57. Sunday and Monday will offer a slight chance of snow, as winter is not done yet.

E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com; jhancock@desnews.com