Sunday morning snowfall leads to slide-offs, wrecks and tree limbs down

(Salt Lake City, UT)  —  Early Sunday morning snowfall, along with an overnight dumping in the Salt Lake Valley is causing traffic problems on main roads and freeways.  UDOT reported about a dozen wrecks on I-15 between Willard Bay and Murray as early as 7:00 a.m. Sunday.

I-80 has had problems from overnight, including an accident WB near Grantsville.  UDOT traffic cams showed delays and heavy snowfall.  

Utah Highway Patrol tells us that as of 11:30 Sunday, troopers have handled 100 crashes statewide. Most of the crashes they are seeing are single vehicles accidents.

KSL Newsradio’s Andy Farnsworth reports trees and limbs are down, including one that had a stretch of road closed in the downtown area around 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

“There’s a huge one down blocking 3rd West at 4th North, so northbound lanes are shut down.  It’s almost like a tree itself falling off an even bigger tree,” says Andy.  

KSL Traffic Trooper Bill Brass texted us at 575-00, saying the trees in Sugar House did not seem to be holding up well following Sunday’s early blast of snowfall.

Chains, 4-wheel drive or approved traction devices are required for all vehicles early Sunday for Big and Little Cottonwood canyons, and for big rig trucks on WB U.S. 6 between Main St./Helper and Spanish Fork.  

National Weather Service meteorologist Christine Kruse tells KSL Newsradio early Sunday morning that the worst of the driving conditions should last through sunrise, but conditions should start to improve by mid-morning.  Another round of snowfall is due up towards middle of next week.

Rocky Mountain Power reports over 8,000 customers are without power as of about 11 a.m. Sunday.  Many intersections are dark as a result.

At Salt Lake International Airport, there were 123 delays and 1 cancellation as of mid-morning Sunday.