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Winter is coming: Stormy weather could bring snow in higher elevations

Today marks the first day of autumn and already, winter weather is on its way.

On Thursday afternoon, a severe storm warning was issued for much of the Cache Valley Area. That warning has since expired, but stormy conditions are still expected through Saturday.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for Cache Valley, predicting snow will be possible in elevations near 7,000 feet Friday morning.

According to the report, “the core of the cold fall storm” is expected to pass over Northern Utah Friday, before shifting east and out of the area. The report also states that “the resulting snow will result in travel difficulties along higher elevation roadways in Northern Utah.”

This doesn’t mean students should expect to dig their cars out of snowbanks Friday morning, since Logan is situated comfortably at about 4,000 feet above sea level. But snow could be seen in nearby canyons.

The storm that could bring an abrupt end to the fall season has already caused its fair share of damage in Cache Valley. Heavy rain and high winds knocked over trees. The storm caused power outages all across the valley, including several on the Utah State University campus Wednesday night.

Alex Niebergall, an employee at USU’s Quadside Cafe, said the power went out around 9 p.m. and wasn’t restored until close to 1 a.m.  

“It was pouring pretty good,” said Jackson Probst, a Quadside Cafe employee who worked during the power outage.

Probst said lightning appeared to be striking fairly close by as well.

The cafe and the library closed early as a result, Niebergall said.

But Utah State hardly saw the worst of the storm. Rocky Mountain Power reported widespread outages across Davis and Weber counties Thursday, affecting an estimated 30,000 people. Flash flood warnings were issued for much of southern Utah and urban areas along the Wasatch front. A tornado is also reported to have touched down briefly in the Washington Terrace area near Ogden.

Though the Salt Lake City office of the National Weather Service reported storm winds blowing northward, it appears the storm is expected to die down over the next 24 hours. A 100 percent chance of rain is expected for much of the day Friday, but no thunderstorms are anticipated.

Temperatures in the low 40s are expected throughout the rest of the week, which could mean that any snowfall in the mountains might stick. Though it’s hardly begun, the fall season could already be over.

Niebergall said fall started with the power outage and ended with the power outage.

“Now, winter is coming,” he said.

–– ac.roberts95@gmail.com

@alyssarbrts