ST. GEORGE — Higher elevations in Southern Utah could be in for 18 more hours of winter.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory, which will run from 6 a.m. Friday through 6 p.m. Saturday for the Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs, Central Mountains and Southern Mountains. Snow is expected above 8,000 feet in Washington, Iron, Garfield, Beaver and Kane counties, with accumulations of 6-12 inches possible in central Utah and up to 15 inches near Brian Head.
A weather service news release said drivers should “slow down and use caution while traveling … Winter driving conditions are possible, especially above 8,000 feet. Winter conditions can be expected by those venturing into the backcountry.”
The NWS forecast for Brian Head calls for overnight snow showers Thursday-Friday beginning between midnight and 3 a.m. with some thunder possible. Freezing temperatures will drop to 25 degrees, with west-southwest winds of 18-22 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%.
Snow showers will continue Friday morning with 3-5 inches possible. Steady temperature around 28 with southwest winds of 18-22 mph. Snow will continue Friday night with 5-9 inches possible and lows around 19. Snow showers are expected to continue through noon Saturday.
St. George, meanwhile, might see rain and a thunderstorm or two during the weather advisory period. Winds will range from 8-17 mph with high temperatures of 64 and lows of 47. And in Cedar City, rain showers and thunderstorms are likely Friday with lows approaching 35 and south winds 7-14 mph. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 42.
More seasonable weather is predicted for Sunday and next week with a warming trend producing temperatures of 80 in St. George and 70 in Cedar City.