On March 9, Salt Lake City recorded a 71-degree day, making it the third-earliest 70-degree day in the city’s recorded history. This year’s hot temperatures came roughly three weeks ahead of schedule, with 2026 matching 1989 and 1972 as the years with the third-earliest 70-degree days, which fell on March 9.
The earliest recorded 70-degree day in Salt Lake City’s history falls on March 3, occurring in both 2022 and 1921. City temperature records date back 152 years to 1874.
The early 71-degree day accurately portrays how this winter went for Salt Lake City and for Utah as a whole. The 2025-2026 winter saw record-low snowpack totals, late ski resort openings, and persistent higher-than-normal temperatures. This year’s unusual weather pattern was in stark contrast to typical northern Utah winters, which are normally colder and snow-filled.
According to KSL, the state’s average temperature between December 1 and February 28 was 36.4 degrees, beating the previous record by 2.2 degrees set in 2014-2025. Meteorologists believe that climate change and the lack of an organized winter jet stream are to blame for the disappointing winter conditions.
Early warm weather and a disappointing winter are leaving many questioning what future Utah winters will look like. Researchers believe that climate change will continue to play a role in bizarre, uncharacteristic patterns. A 2021 study conducted by Utah State University found that each Utah ski resort is hotter than it was in the past…