Salt Lake City, UT – Utah emergency officials are urging residents to begin preparing today for potential winter hazards, including freezing rain events that can occur during temperature inversions and warm-front transitions. While Utah is best known for heavy snow, the National Weather Service (NWS) warns that even short periods of freezing rain can cause significant disruptions across the Wasatch Front and Northern Utah.
According to NOAA, a thin glaze of ice is enough to snap weakened branches, damage powerlines, and create dangerous conditions on major routes such as I-15, I-80, I-215, Highway 89, and mountain valley connectors. Temperature inversions—common in the Salt Lake Valley—can trap cold air at the surface, making freezing rain possible even when upper levels are warm. With fluctuating temperatures expected this season, officials say today is the ideal time to begin winter readiness steps.
According to the National Weather Service, residents should begin by trimming weak or damaged branches around homes, garages, and sidewalks. These limbs often fall first once ice begins to accumulate. NOAA also warns drivers not to raise their vehicle windshield wipers before storms, as wipers can freeze to the glass and break; keeping them lowered and covered is recommended.
Emergency managers urge families to maintain at least a week’s worth of non-perishable food, bottled water, and essential prescriptions. Even brief freezing rain events can create hazardous travel and trigger localized outages across Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, and Cache counties. Residents are also encouraged not to park vehicles beneath trees, where ice-laden branches may fall unexpectedly.
To prepare for potential outages, officials recommend fully charging phones, flashlights, power banks, and essential devices today. Homeowners who use generators should safely store extra gasoline and run a test to ensure systems are operating properly. Stocking rock salt or ice melt can also help reduce slip hazards around porches, steps, and driveways.
“Even occasional ice storms can disrupt life across Utah,” the NWS said. “Preparing today is the best way to stay safe this winter.”
