SALT LAKE CITY -- There was a lot of water on the roads across much of Utah Saturday, but aside from a few minor crashes most people appear to be driving cautiously. The wet weather also coincides with the final weekend of Utah’s ski season, as Snowbird—the last resort to remain open—will have it's last day on Mother's Day.
“It's pretty cool, we didn't have much of a winter this year so it's nice to go out with a bang,” said Salt Lake City resident Michael Shea.
Brian Brown, Communications Manager at Snowbird, said they will get some more snow for their final days of operation for the season.
“It's kind of sad to see it go, but if we're going to have a closing weekend we might as well get 6 or 7 inches of new powder,” he said.
Visibility levels were low up Little Cottonwood Canyon as snow consistently fell throughout the day. Brown said the snowpack was still below average for the season, but every little bit helps.
“Snowpack is very important,” he said. “We love to have it up here at the resort, but it makes a big difference in how we choose to water our lawns and water conservation so it's really great that we've had these late season storms. But it's going to go a long way for the water situation we have down in the valley, so I think it's good for everybody.”
According to the National Weather Service, average monthly rainfall totals for May are usually about 1.95 inches. Just nine days into the month, we’ve already almost doubled that amount--but it’s still not enough to make up for the dry winter.
“Every little bit helps, unfortunately because of the timing of the rain and how dry we’ve been, it doesn’t put a significant dent in the drought levels and snowpack numbers and such,” said Monica Traphagan, who is a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
There is a hazardous weather outlook for much of Utah this weekend, so take it easy on the roads if you head out. Snowbird’s final day is Sunday--Mother’s Day—and they do have some special things planned for mom, like discount lift tickets and a fundraiser for Nepal. Visit their website for more information.
