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Semi trucks prohibited on portions of I-15, US-89 as winds whip across Wasatch Front

Posted at 7:39 PM, Nov 21, 2013
and last updated 2013-11-21 23:11:53-05

THE WASATCH FRONT –It was slow going for most people in Davis County on Thursday, who found themselves working against Mother Nature.

“It’s fast. They just blow right back into the same spot,” said Larry Lamph.

The Bountiful resident attempted to do some raking in his yard just as heavy winds swept through town.

“They come right back into the house again,” he said.

A FOX 13 News viewer captured video of a power line erupting in sparks due to the winds. Click here for the footage.

The severe winds whipped along the Wasatch Front, prompting Utah Department of Transportation officials to prohibit semi trucks on portions of highways in northern Utah.

Shortly before 7:00 p.m., UDOT officials called for a no drive order on US-89 between Bountiful and Layton. The vehicles were also prohibited on I-15 between mile post 317 in Centerville and mile post 330 in Layton.

The conditions were not ideal for many on the road, like Chuck Dills, who decided to move across country on Thursday.

“Bad call. It was a bad call,” said Dills, laughing. “There was a sign back there that says it was going to blow until Friday, and we don’t want to stay here until Friday.”

A high wind warning was issued by the National Weather Service for Davis and Weber counties, along with northeastern Salt Lake County, and winds reached speeds of up to 75 mph.

As the wind picked up speed throughout the night, emergency crews rushed to keep up with it, cleaning up downed power lines in parts of Centerville and elsewhere.

The damage is something most were anticipating, though, according to Davis County emergency management.

“It was kind of a brief flashback to 2011. Even though it’s not quite as bad, it’s still going to be obviously pretty, pretty intense,” said Ellis Bruch, the county’s emergency manager

The warning is in effect until noon Saturday. Click here for the latest weather warning information from the National Weather Service.

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