Weather
This forecast was created at 9 a.m. PST on Friday, January 31.
An active pattern will bring multiple rounds of heavy mountain snow to Utah, with the most substantial accumulations focused on the northern mountains this weekend and again mid-next week. Rain may mix in at lower elevations by Sunday, but colder conditions should return by late next week, bringing more snowfall chances for the high terrain.
The first surge arrives Friday night into Saturday, bringing an influx of moisture and significant snowfall to the northern mountains. Snow levels will initially be lower, allowing many mid-elevation areas to pick up fresh snow. Some valleys may briefly start with snow before warmer air moves in, but the higher elevations should see consistent snowfall through this period. Winds will be gusty in exposed terrain, potentially creating areas of blowing snow and reduced visibility on the slopes.
As we move into Saturday night and Sunday, milder air streams in aloft, lifting snow levels and lowering snow ratios. The northern mountains will still see periods of moderate snowfall, but accumulating totals may lessen as snow becomes heavier and wetter. By Sunday afternoon, a few mid-elevation locations could see rain mixing in, though the highest terrain should remain mostly snow. Despite slightly lower intensity, these lingering showers will still contribute to deepening the snowpack by late Sunday.
By Monday, the flow shifts, and the moisture pipeline weakens, reducing widespread snowfall for a time. The northern mountains may still catch spotty orographic snow showers early, but most areas trend drier and warmer through Tuesday. Temperatures in lower valleys could push into the 50s or even 60s, with strong southwest winds in some southern locations. This warmer pattern is short-lived, as another system is poised to move in midweek.
Below are some mid-mountain forecast totals for this weekend’s storm:
- Powder Mountain – 17″–30”
- Solitude/Brighton – 13″–23”
- Alta/Snowbird – 12″–22”
- Park City/Deer Valley 9″–16”
From Wednesday into Friday, a new storm is likely to bring a return of colder air and additional snowfall to the region. Northern Utah appears favored again for heavier accumulations, but details on exact amounts will depend on the trajectory of this next system. At this time, moderate snow is expected in the high terrain with the potential for lighter accumulations across southern mountains. In the longer range, patterns continue to hint at a more unsettled regime for northern Utah, while southern areas may remain on the fringes of each passing storm system.
Below are some preliminary mid-mountain forecast totals for next week’s storm (Weds-Fri). Keep in mind that this second wave from Wednesday to Friday is still pretty far out, so totals can and will change before then.
- Solitude/Brighton – 6″–12”
- Alta/Snowbird – 6″–12”
- Eagle Point – 6″–11”
- Park City/Deer Valley – 5″–10”
- Powder Mountain – 4″–9”
