SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – Strong winds have closed highways, canceled school, blown down trees, and knocked out power for thousands along the Wasatch Front.
Wind gusts were recorded as high as 100 miles per hour Thursday morning.
UPDATE: ALL DAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY.
THE RED CROSS AND THE CITY OF LAYTON HAVE SET UP A SHELTER AT LEGACY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ON 411 NORTH 3200 WEST, WHICH WILL OPEN AT 7:00 PM THURSDAY.Centerville City also offered emergency shelter. If emergency shelter is needed, the Red Cross is using space at City Hall, and the city requested that anyone in need of shelter to call 801-295-3477 for arrangements.
Rocky Mountain Power said that over 50,000 customers were without power and might be out of service for up to 48 hours.
There were numerous reports of downed power lines. Rocky Mountain Power advised everyone to stay away from downed power lines and to immediately report them to 1-877-508-5088.
I-15 north of Salt Lake City was closed in both directions Thursday morning. At least six semis were overturned on the highway. The Davis County Sheriff's Office reported that some truck had also overturned along Highway 89.
I-15 is was closed to high profile vehicles until the wind subsides. Other traffic is down to one lane with major traffic backups.
Highway 89 was also closed Thursday morning and was opened up before 9 a.m.
FrontRunner between Ogden and Salt Lake City is having major delays, due to downed power lines and debris on the tracks.
Flights in and out of Salt Lake City International Airport are also logging delays from the wind.
Several schools in Davis County were closed and classes canceled.
Among the schools in the Davis School district that were closed included:
Boulton, Burton, Centerville, Creekside, Columbia, Eagle Bay, East Layton, Holbrook, Kaysville, Knowlton, Morgan, Muir, Oak Hills, Reading, Stewart, Taylor, Valley View, Washington, West Bountiful, Windridge elementaries, Bountiful, Centerville, Central Davis, South Davis, Millcreek and Mueller Park Junior Highs, Woods Cross and Mountain High schools.
The Davis School District said that all students who remained in schools were safe and that the schools would be staffed until the end of the regular school day.
School district officials said that parents who were concerned would be able to pick up their child at any time.
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Click here for the latest updates from the Davis School District)
Centerville police said the conditions were unsafe for travel.
Weber County schools were having classes as scheduled.
Weber State University closed until late Thursday afternoon.
The National Weather Service said that the winds were expected to last into Thursday evening, with gusts of between 50 and 65 mph.
Hundreds of semi truck lined the I-15 freeway, frontage roads and exits as UHP troopers forced truck drivers to stay put.
At least 7 semi trucks and trailers toppled over in Davis County along I-15 and its adjacent exits. Large freeway signs were also ripped over.
Hundreds of trees fell over in Davis County, along with power lines.
Several trees fell in the 3100 South 38 East area in Bountiful. Trees toppled over on two of Paula Frandsen's cars.
Farther north in Clearfield at 100 North and Main Street power poles snapped in half. Rocky Mountain Power rushed to the scene to secure the poles and the power lines about two blocks north of this area a large tree is down near a Latter-day Saint chappel.
In Kaysville, several trees are down along one of the main streets.
Farther north in Roy ABC 4 found another large tree leaning into power lines at 5051 South 1900 West.
In Ogden, at 1123 on 23rd Street a tree toppled down on two homes. It's root ball lurched up 8 feet into the air. I was sleeping with my wife and my baby and I listened to a big noise and when I looked out I saw the tree on the house," said Martin Castelan.
No one inside the homes was hurt.
One golf course reported that more than 100 trees were toppled by the gusts.
A 3-story condominium in Farmington that was still under construction was reduced to one story by the gusting wind.
In Centerville, officials said their cursory assessment of damages was over $8,000,000, with some of the hardest hit area located west of Main Street.
Stay with ABC 4 for more on this developing story.
