Weather
This forecast was created at 7:30 a.m. PST on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
A moisture-rich system arrives Wednesday night and lasts into early Friday, with the Cottonwoods picking up the best totals while relatively high snow levels keep snow quality on the dense side at lower elevations. Snow levels run high during the heart of the event, generally around 8,500–9,500 feet at times, so bases near and below that line can see wetter snow or periods of mix while upper-mountain terrain stays mostly snow. The steadiest precipitation favors Thursday and especially Thursday night, when several resorts stack up most of their accumulations. Temperatures hover close to freezing (upper 20s to mid 30s), reinforcing the elevation dependence of conditions. SLRs during this window are commonly in the 8–11:1 range, so expect dense snow overall, with the driest texture reserved for colder, higher aspects later in the storm.
Wednesday Night–Thursday Warm Push brings increasing precipitation and a higher rain-snow line, which is the main limiter for lower bases. In the Wasatch, Alta and Snowbird sit well for snowfall because much of their skiable terrain resides above the warmest snow levels, while Brighton and Solitude also do well once rates increase. Park City and Deer Valley can still add snow, but the combination of mild temperatures and snow levels near or above their base elevations suggests heavier, moisture-laden snow at the bottom with better coverage higher up. Event totals land in the 9″–13″ range for Alta and Snowbird, with many other Wasatch resorts in the 7″–10″ neighborhood. Southwest to west winds remain noticeable, with ridge gusts typically 20–35 mph and locally higher, which can affect exposed upper lifts and ridgelines.
Thursday Night–Early Friday Cooling Phase is the best shot at improved turns as snow levels trend down toward roughly 7,300–7,800 feet and SLRs tick upward into the 10–12:1 range in favored higher terrain. This aligns with the period when several resorts experience their largest single block of accumulation, so the skiing payoff is highest late Thursday night into Friday morning at open upper-mountain zones. Eagle Point stands out in southern Utah with a solid 7″–10″ and the breeziest ridgelines, where gusts can peak near 40 mph. After a brief lull late Friday into Saturday, the pattern looks poised to turn unsettled again late weekend into early next week, though timing and strength remain uncertain. The broader outlook for January 5–13 favors above-normal precipitation and temperatures in Utah, suggesting continued storm chances, with periodic higher snow levels and generally denser snow in the extended range.
Resort Forecast Totals
- Snowbird – 10″–13″ Wed night (12/31) – Fri night (01/02)
- Alta – 9″–13″ Wed night (12/31) – Fri night (01/02)
- Eagle Point – 7″–10″ Wed night (12/31) – Fri (01/02)
- Brighton – 7″–10″ Wed night (12/31) – Fri night (01/02)
- Solitude – 7″–10″ Wed night (12/31) – Fri night (01/02)
- Snowbasin – 6″–8″ Thu (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
- Powder Mountain – 6″–8″ Thu (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
- Beaver Mountain – 5″–7″ Thu (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
- Park City – 4″–5″ Wed night (12/31) – Fri night (01/02)
- Deer Valley – 2″–3″ Thu (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
