SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has issued a Road Weather Alert for the evening of Monday, March 17, continuing into the morning of Tuesday, March 18. A cold front is expected to move across the state, bringing cooler temperatures, snow, and gusty winds that will impact roads and travel.
The cold front is forecast to arrive in northern Utah around 6 p.m. Monday evening, gradually reaching southern Utah by 10 p.m. This shift in weather will result in cooler temperatures throughout the night and into Tuesday morning. According to UDOT, the primary areas of concern will include Interstate 15 (I-15) and Interstate 80 (I-80), where slushy roads are anticipated by Tuesday morning.
Mountain routes will be particularly affected by the storm, with several inches of snow expected to accumulate on roads. Areas including the Cottonwood Canyons, Logan Summit, Powder Mountain, and Monte Cristo are likely to experience heavy snow throughout the night. UDOT warned that these regions will see periods of significant snowfall, making travel hazardous. Mountain passes such as Daniels Summit, Skyline, and Brian Head are also expected to face challenging conditions.
In addition to the snow, strong winds are expected as the cold front moves through. Gusts of 40 to 50 mph are anticipated, particularly along the I-80 corridor between Wendover and Tooele. UDOT is especially concerned about high winds in these areas, which could cause drifting snow and further complicate travel.
Southern Utah will experience prefrontal winds that could cause drifting snow hazards near Brian Head and along Upper State Route 14 (SR-14). Travelers in these areas are urged to be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions.
By Tuesday morning, roads in the Valley and Urban corridors—including Salt Lake City, Provo, and Logan—are expected to be slushy and potentially hazardous. Drivers are advised to use extra caution when traveling in these areas, especially during the morning commute.
UDOT is continuing to monitor the storm’s progress and is expected to issue an updated weather alert for Tuesday night into Wednesday morning to cover the potential impacts of the next phase of the storm.
Motorists are encouraged to stay informed and make travel plans accordingly. UDOT recommends drivers follow its TravelWise program and adjust their routes if possible to avoid the worst conditions.
Routes Affected by the Weather Event Include:
- I-15: Idaho border to Cedar City
- I-80: Grassy Hill to the Wyoming border
- I-84: Entire route
- I-215: Entire route
- US-6: Kings Canyon, west of Eureka to Helper
- US-89: Idaho border to Mt. Carmel Junction
- SR-190: Big Cottonwood Canyon
- SR-210: Little Cottonwood Canyon
- SR-158: Powder Mountain
- SR-14: Entire route
- SR-153: Entire route
- SR-12: Entire route
With a range of routes impacted, UDOT is advising all motorists to exercise caution, particularly when traveling in the mountains and areas prone to snow accumulation and drifting.