Storms system rolls in, whips N. Utah with winds

If Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about how Utah's mid-week storm system arrived, he might suggest that as it "grew higher and louder . . . the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the chimney."

Wednesday literally blew in with gusts of 50 mph or more and winds steadily whipping the Wasatch Front in the 30-40 mph range. That turned what would have been a mild morning, with temperatures in the 40s, into misery with a wind chill factor making the early hours feel like the teens.

On Thursday, winds were to be calmer, with daytime highs in the low- to mid-40s and an increasing chance of valley rains and mountain snowfall.

Southern Utahns looked for highs in the mid- to upper-50s and a slight chance of rain Thursday morning that was to become a 60 percent chance of precipitation by nightfall.

The Utah Avalanche Center predicted "considerable" risk for dangerous snow slides in the mountains of Salt Lake County on Thursday, with most other mountain regions of the state rated at "moderate." Southeastern Utah's Moab district was graded "low" for avalanche risk.

Air quality statewide was graded "Green," or healthy, by the Utah Division of Air Quality.

Salt Lake City expected a high of 45 degrees Thursday, down from Wednesday's forecast for 50; Ogden looked for 43 and 48 degrees, respectively; Provo 48 and 51; Logan 40 and 43; Wendover 40 and 45; Duchesne 42s; Cedar City 48 and 50; St. George 57 and 59; and Moab 50 and 47 degrees.

remims@sltrib.com