This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

While Utahns enjoyed a white Christmas on Tuesday — with another snowstorm expected to arrive overnight — the National Weather Service issued a backcountry avalanche warning for parts of central Utah.

The warning said heavy snowfall and strong winds created "very dangerous avalanche conditions and a high avalanche danger" in the Manti-Skyline Plateau.

"Travel on or beneath steep terrain is not recommended there" because of the high likelihood that huge avalanches could be triggered by human activity.

The risk for dangerous snow slides was rated at "considerable" for the Logan and Salt Lake area mountains as well as northeastern Utah's Uinta Mountains. The Provo and Ogden area slopes rated "moderate" for avalanche risk.

That came after a fast-moving winter storm moved through Utah on Monday. More than a foot of snow fell in some mountain locations and between 2 and 5 inches dusted valley floors, National Weather Service data shows

Snow totals, as of Tuesday morning, included 18 inches at Alta, 11 inches at Powder Mountain, 6 inches in Salt Lake City and South Jordan, and 4 inches at Sandy and Pleasant Grove.

And there's more snow on the way.

The National Weather Service forecast said the next cold Pacific storm system would reach western Utah late Christmas evening, and "will move very slowly through the regional and will impact the state through early Friday."

The Weather Service said most of the Wasatch Front has a 30 percent chance of snow after midnight, with snow likely on Wednesday morning expected to bring an accumulation of 2 to 3 inches in the valleys. Meteorologists also expected the storm to bring another foot to 2 feet of snow in the mountains by Thursday night.

On Wednesday, Salt Lake City is expected to have a high of 33 degrees after an overnight low of 26; Ogden looked for 33 and 23 degrees respectively; Provo 33 and 24; Logan 30 and 17; Wendover 32 and 22; and St. George 42 and 32.