More snow, rain in the forecast for northern Utah

Valley rain and mountain snow were forecast to return to northern Utah on Thursday, and the new precipitation was expected to keep the state's avalanche risk warnings at "red," or high levels.

After a cloudy but dry Wednesday with high temperatures around 50 degrees, rain — and fresh snow at higher elevations — were expected to begin with an initial surge Thursday morning and then make a wet encore Thursday evening.

In southern Utah, however, the forecast was for sunny, mostly clear weather with high temperatures in the 50s.

More mountain precipitation on top of several feet of new snow over the past few days kept the risk of dangerous snow slides high throughout the state, according to the Utah Avalanche Center. Avalanche watchdogs were particularly concerned with the western Uintas, declaring that life-threatening slides were just waiting to be triggered by unwary human winter sports enthusiasts; they urged skiers and snowmobilers to avoid the backcountry altogether.

The Utah Division of Environmental Quality, meanwhile, issued "green" or healthy air quality ratings for all areas of the state.

Salt Lake City looked for a high temperature Thursday of 50 degrees in the wake of Wednesday's 48-degree high; Ogden expected 47 and 45 degrees; Provo 53 and 50; Logan 45 and 43; Wendover 49 and 48; Duchesne 39 and 35; Cedar City 55 and 50; St. George 61 and 58; and Moab 49 and 45 degrees.

remims@sltrib.com