Salt Lake City is starting the workweek on a mellow note, with clear skies, mild air, and temperatures in the mid-30s at the airport Monday morning. A bright, mostly sunny day is on tap, and highs should reach near 56°F this afternoon, running roughly 8 to 12 degrees above what late February usually delivers. Enjoy the break in the weather while you can, because a Pacific system sliding in on Tuesday will flip the switch to a much wetter pattern.
Midweek Rain And Thunder
A warm Pacific system is expected to move through from Tuesday afternoon into late Wednesday, bringing valley rain, scattered thunderstorms, and steady mountain snow. Rain chances climb sharply on Tuesday afternoon, then ramp up further on Tuesday night, with new rainfall totals of a few tenths of an inch to near one-half inch possible in the heaviest bands.
Snow in the mountains will mostly stay above the valley floors at first. According to the National Weather Service, snow levels will start around 7,000 to 8,000 feet before dropping to roughly 5,500 to 6,500 feet by Wednesday. There are no watches or warnings in effect at this time.
What This Means For Travelers And Skiers
Roads into the canyons will be wet and slower during the heaviest periods, with plows and road crews out in force, so plan on extra time for canyon travel from Tuesday night into Wednesday. Ski areas can look for heavy, wet snow at higher elevations and the usual round of avalanche-control work, so it is worth checking resort updates before you load up the car. For more local insight on how these storms play out in the canyons, see gusts, slush, and slow canyons, as per Hoodline…