First big winter storm - Snow plows active in Utah

Snow plows have been hitting the roadways across Utah since early Tuesday morning as a winter storm takes hold. A snowy scene has covered Halloween decorations and previewed the season to come in the local ski and mountain resorts.

Winter is near, and it's giving the Mountain West a preview through Wednesday. Many in the Cottonwood Canyons of Utah woke up on Tuesday to white stuff covering the roads, but due to this usual sight, local schools remained open. Sorry, kids!

This winter storm came after bringing heavy rain and mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest over the weekend. By Monday evening, the storm tapped into abundant upper-atmospheric energy thanks to the polar jet dipping into the western U.S. The result was a burst of snow and rain, as seen on the WeatherRadar.

A trough in the upper atmosphere is slowly shifting to the east, which will keep the snow and lower-elevation rain falling through Wednesday.

Not to be outdone, this trough will be a lift-off point for late-season severe weather in the central and southern Plains and the Midwest on Wednesday. Have at least three ways to receive weather warnings and your app alerts on for the latest weather forecast.