HUNTSVILLE -- A fast-moving storm carrying lightning, snow and strong winds forced Snowbasin ski resort to close operations Thursday afternoon.
A spokeswoman said the gondolas and lifts were closed around 2 p.m., then reopened after a one-hour delay.
The resort closed because of lightning strikes in the area, said spokeswoman Jody Holmgren.
"When we have lightning strikes, we have to wait at least 30 minutes after the last strike before we can reopen the lifts," she said. "The safety of people here on the mountain always comes first, but we have been waiting for this storm for some time."
Holmgren said Snowbasin also closed temporarily Wednesday afternoon when lightning hit the resort, but lifts were able to resume operations after the required waiting period.
Thursday's storm moved in from the southwest in rapid gusts after the morning was deceptively sunny and warm. Ogden started getting rain around 1 p.m., and by 2 p.m., the sky was dark and winds were whipping clouds into the mountains.
The National Weather Service placed the Top of Utah under a winter storm advisory, saying the storm would start in the valley with rain turning to steady snow through the afternoon.
Snow was forecast through Thursday evening and this morning before skies clear in the afternoon.
Officials in Box Elder County were preparing for nasty road conditions, but no significant traffic accidents were attributed to the weather late Thursday in Top of Utah.
Updated 11:35 p.m.
Lightning forces Snowbasin to shut down lifts
HUNTSVILLE -- A fast-moving storm carrying lightning, snow and strong winds has forced Snowbasin ski resort to close operations this afternoon. They planned to reopen at 3:15 p.m. for the remaining 45 minutes of their normal operating day.
A spokeswoman said the gondolas and lifts were closed around 2 p.m.
"We are closed down because of lightning," said spokeswoman Jody Holmgren. "When we have lightning strikes, we have to wait at least 30 minutes after the last strike before we can reopen the lifts. The safety of people here on the mountain always comes first, but we have been waiting for this storm for some time."
Holmgren said Snowbasin also closed temporarily Wednesday afternoon when lightning hit the resort but lifts were able to resume operations after the required waiting period.
The storm moved in from the southwest in rapid gusts after the morning was deceptively sunny and warm. Ogden started getting scattered rain around 1 p.m., but by 2 p.m. the sky was dark and winds were whipping clouds into the mountains.
The National Weather Service placed the Top of Utah under a winter storm advisory, saying the storm would start in the valley with rain turning to steady snow through the afternoon. Snow could be heavy through the evening and Friday morning before skies clear Friday afternoon.
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