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SALT LAKE CITY — Schools in San Juan County were closed Thursday and will remain closed Friday. Washington County schools delayed classes by two hours Thursday.
San Juan School District
All schools in the San Juan School District will be closed Friday due to severe weather, officials reported Thursday evening. The district office will also be closed.
Snow Day 2/21/19
— San Juan Schools (@sanjuanschools) February 21, 2019
IMPORTANT Weather Notice
Please be advised that due to severe weather warnings, all SJSD schools and District Office will be closed today Thursday, February 21, 2019.
The San Juan School District initially delayed the start of classes by two hours Thursday but later closed all schools and district offices due to the severe winter weather.
Washington County School District
All schools in the Washington County School District began two hours late on Thursday, and there was no morning kindergarten, district officials said earlier Thursday.
IMPORTANT Weather Notice Friday 22nd Update
— San Juan Schools (@sanjuanschools) February 22, 2019
Please be advised that due to severe weather warnings, all SJSD schools and District Office will be closed today Friday, February 22, 2019.
Buses were scheduled to run their routes two hours later than usual and may not make it up some steep hills in areas, the district said.
School officials said they set school at a two-hour delay because the buses are not equipped with snow tires, and the drivers aren't as used to driving in the snow as those in more northern parts of the state. The last time the school district had a snow day was in 2013 during a big storm.
It’s normally 60° this time of year in @Cityofstgeorge. Not today! #KSLTV#KSLWeatherpic.twitter.com/HycKuk1sad
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) February 21, 2019
St. George's temperature is usually around 60 degrees this time of year, and the city usually only gets a dusting of snow — but it got a bit more this year.
Snow plows came through to clear the roads early Thursday morning, but they weren't city plows. St. George is only equipped with one snow plow for the runways at the St. George Regional Airport and that plow is too big for the streets. Instead, the city usually relies on the Utah Department of Transportation plows if they get an unusual amount of snow.
Sleigh riding. In St. George. These two friends got in a few runs before school starts because of the 2-hour delay. #KSLTV#KSLWeather@KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/siZECf9IAK
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) February 21, 2019
Dixie State University received snow, but classes there will be held on their regular schedule.
Good morning, Trailblazers! We got some snow last night, but classes will not be canceled today. However, with limited snow removal services available in the county, please be sure to drive safely. #thedixielifepic.twitter.com/oU5NDwIfBL
— DixieStateUniversity (@DixieState) February 21, 2019
A winter storm warning is in effect as a major winter storm moves through southern and eastern Utah on Thursday. Several inches of snow are expected in St. George, Santa Clara, Hurricane, Zion National Park and elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the snow in the Heber-Kamas Ranger District is [60 inches deep in the flats of Strawberry](<https://twitter.com/UWCNF/status/1098648427007598592' target=>), officials reported Thursday.
#uwcnf Heber-Kamas Ranger District, How deep’s the snow in Strawberry? 60” in the flats! pic.twitter.com/ZxCQSA1Qvo
— Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF (@UWCNF) February 21, 2019
To get the full weather forecast, visit the KSL.com weather page.
Contributing: Alex Cabrero, KSL TV