Springtime Storms Catch Utah Drivers Off Guard

UDOT says unpredictable weather makes highway prep difficult

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:26am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A vast, hazy landscape painting depicting a snow-covered highway cutting through a bleak, fog-shrouded valley, conveying the overwhelming power and indifference of nature towards the small, insignificant road below.A sublime, atmospheric landscape captures the overwhelming force of Utah's unpredictable spring storms, which can quickly turn highways into treacherous obstacles.Salt Lake City Today

After a series of accidents on I-80 and I-15 in Utah on Friday morning, UDOT officials explained the challenges of preparing roads for sudden spring storms. UDOT crews were out treating the roads, but the quick-moving weather caused crashes in between their efforts. UDOT says the warm weather and unpredictable nature of these spring storms make it hard to pre-treat the roads, and they urge drivers to slow down when conditions change rapidly.

Why it matters

Utah's spring weather can be highly unpredictable, with sudden storms that catch both UDOT and drivers off guard. This highlights the need for better weather forecasting and communication, as well as the importance of safe driving practices when conditions deteriorate quickly.

The details

UDOT public relations director John Gleason said crews were out treating the roads on Thursday night and Friday morning, but crashes still occurred in between their efforts. He explained that the warm weather and difficulty predicting where the storms will hit make it challenging to pre-treat the roads ahead of time. Gleason stressed that while UDOT will look for ways to improve their storm response, drivers also need to slow down and adjust their speeds when weather conditions change rapidly.

  • On Friday morning, April 18, 2026, a series of accidents occurred on I-80 and I-15 in Utah.
  • UDOT crews were out treating the roads on Thursday night and Friday morning.

The players

John Gleason

The public relations director for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT).

Isaiah

A driver who experienced a much longer than usual commute from Orem to Bluffdale due to the weather conditions.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's incredibly difficult to predict where these lake effect spring storms are going to hit.”

— John Gleason, Public Relations Director, UDOT

“I left my home, I live over in Orem, around 6:55. I went to drive up here for work here in Bluffdale and it took what usually is a 25–30-minute drive, probably an hour and 30 minutes, an hour 45.”

— Isaiah

What’s next

UDOT says they will review their storm response procedures to see if there are any improvements they can make, but they also emphasize the need for drivers to slow down and adjust their speeds when weather conditions change rapidly.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges Utah transportation officials face in preparing for unpredictable spring weather, as well as the importance of safe driving practices when sudden storms hit. It underscores the need for better weather forecasting and communication to help both UDOT and drivers be better prepared for rapidly changing conditions.