SALT LAKE CITY – It was a big sigh of relief from Utah Highway Patrol Troopers Thursday as the small amount of snow that hit the valley overnight meant a low number of weather-related traffic incidents.
In all, less than two dozen accidents were reported by troopers between midnight and 9 a.m. Thursday
Most of those, 16, occurred in the Salt Lake Valley, while a half-dozen happened in Utah County.
And even though most of the snow didn't stick to the pavement, troopers say they were having some issues with people spinning out or momentarily sliding due to black ice, in particular on bridges and overpasses.
"When the roads are wet and you get this cold wind going underneath those structures, we start to get a little bit of black ice, and a lot of people don't think about black ice in November, but here we are," said Sgt. Todd Royce of the Utah Highway Patrol. "We got a little bit of black ice and had some problems with that."
But, overall, they say the first cold weather storm of the season went pretty well.
"We like it when these little storms come in just like this, because it gets everybody in the mindset before the big ones come,” Royce said.
And even though it looks like the snow is gone for now, it is going to be a little chilly overnight and troopers want to remind everyone that black ice could still be in issue during the nighttime and into the early morning hours on Friday.
