Shoppers, workers and anyone else who'll commute along the Wasatch Front today should expect a difficult drive.
The National Weather Service issued a heavy snow warning late Wednesday through this afternoon for most of the Wasatch Front along the I-15 corridor and east. A snow advisory bringing 2-4 inches was issued for areas west of I-15, said National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall.
Slushy snow made for a white Christmas for most of Utah Thursday. While heavy snow fell throughout the night, at 10 p.m. some 3 inches had accumulated along the Salt Lake Valley benches and two inches was reported at Salt Lake City International Airport.
Elsewhere in the state at 7 p.m., Heber City had received 6 inches, Brian Head Resort in southern Utah had 2 inches; and Coalville and Duchesne both received 1 inch. Layton had received 1 inch of snow; and Orem and Pleasant Grove both received 1 inch.
Despite a couple of close calls on Salt Lake County freeways, Utah roads were "really quiet," said Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Chris Kramer. "People are driving the way they should. They're not crashing."
There were fewer than 30 accidents in Utah and Salt Lake counties by 7 p.m. Thursday. Several vehicles slid off the roads, Kramer said.
Snow contributed to one of the more serious crashes occurred along I-15 near the 600 North onramp, where a southbound vehicle crossed the median into oncoming traffic and smashed into a northbound vehicle about 9 a.m., Kramer said. One of the occupants of the vehicles was taken to a local hospital. No other details were available at press time.
About 9 a.m., two vehicles collided along I-15 near 1200 North. One person was injured and transported to a local hospital. The UHP said snow contributed to the accident, Kramer said.
Shortly before 2 p.m., a 71-year-old woman and her teacup poodle survived a rollover accident along southbound I-215.
The unidentified driver fell asleep at the wheel, drifted off the road, rolled her car at least three times, and slammed into a telephone pole, said Utah Highway Patrol trooper Guy Hood.
The woman was wearing a seat belt and suffered only minor injuries, although she was trapped inside her car.
Troopers found the trembling dog just south of the accident; it also was not injured.
Show showers are expected to dump 5 inches to 1 foot of the white stuff throughout the Salt Lake and Utah valley floors by this afternoon. "We're expecting 2-3 feet in the Wasatch Mountains," Hall said.
There is a chance of snow showers through Saturday night. On Sunday, "we're going to have cloudy skies," Hall said.
Today, highs should be in the lower 30s. On Saturday and Sunday, the highs are expected to be in the upper 20s, Hall said.
Contributing: Jerry D. Spangler
E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com