Massive snowfall and increased avalanche danger keeps âinterlodgeâ in effect
Interlodge remains in effect 48 hours later
and last updated 2021-02-18 00:08:49-05
LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah â Some locations in Little Cottonwood Canyon have received nearly five feet of snow since the beginning of the week.
With the serious threat of avalanches near both Alta Ski Resort, Snowbird and along SR-210 (Little Cottonwood Canyon), the Town of Alta placed local buildings under âinterlodgeâ on Monday at 11 p.m.
âThe idea is you have to stay inside of a safe space, inside of a building and when thereâs maximum we actually require people to get into a safest part of a building,â said Harris Sondak, Mayor of the Town of Alta, who has lived there since 2004 and has experienced countless nights under interlodge.
Utah Valley University All campuses open
Traffic
The Utah Department of Transportation urged drivers to delay their travel on Wednesday until 10 a.m. due to road conditions. The Cottonwood canyons expect to see 20-25 inches, according to UDOT. Big Cottonwood Canyon restrictions regarding traction devices were lifted by UDOT around 7:20 p.m.
Several crashes and slide-offs were reported Wednesday morning along freeways in the Salt Lake Valley and speeds were significantly reduced, according to the KSL Traffic Center.
By 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Utah Highway Patrol had responded to 219 crashes statewide, the agency said. Since the latest round of winter storms began on Saturday, troopers have investigated a total of 659 crashes and slide-offs.
Alta residents are finally able to leave their homes after more than 2 days
Little Cottonwood Canyon is now back open to all travel, UDOT says.
(Photo courtesy of the Utah Depart of Transportation) UDOT works to clear SR-210 in Little Cottonwood Canyon. | Updated: 10:04 p.m.
More than two days after residents of the town of Alta were ordered to stay inside their homes because of avalanche danger, they’re able to step outside again.
The so-called “interlodge” order that went into effect Monday at 11 p.m. was lifted Wednesday at about 10:30 a.m.
“I got a couple of good runs in this morning,” said Mayor Harris Sondak. “There’s still no vehicle traffic in the canyon, or in the town of Alta. We’re released from our residences, but only on foot.”