Weather
A late-week storm will bring fresh snow across the Utah mountains from Wednesday night through Saturday, with Southern Utah favored for the highest totals. Conditions start off dry and warm, but a cold front moving in late Wednesday will usher in meaningful snowfall for many resorts, followed by a gradual tapering on Sunday. Beyond the weekend, a near-normal precipitation pattern is likely to continue, giving skiers a decent chance of additional springtime turns over the next couple of weeks.
Expect mild and dry weather through Wednesday afternoon, with no significant snowfall during this period. Temperatures will remain above average in the mountains, so don’t anticipate much in the way of fresh coverage before the main event arrives. Despite the pleasant conditions, keep in mind that a strong cold front is approaching from the northwest and will move in late Wednesday night or early Thursday, setting the stage for the first round of snow.
The Wednesday Night-Thursday Storm ushers in colder air, dropping snow levels as low as 5,500-6,500 feet. Northern Utah resorts should see snow developing overnight Wednesday and continuing into Thursday morning, although the heaviest bursts may be relatively short-lived. Central and southern Utah mountains, on the other hand, look to pick up more prolonged and at times heavier snowfall beginning Thursday afternoon or evening. As a rough benchmark for snow quality, initial snow water ratios (SLRs) around 8–9:1 late Wednesday night represent somewhat dense snow, but they should trend toward moderate or even slightly higher ratios by Thursday night, offering improved fluff, especially in higher terrain.
The Friday-Saturday Surge keeps the best accumulations focused over southern Utah, while northern mountains settle into more spotty convective snow showers. Light additional accumulations in the north may freshen surfaces, but the main action will be south of I-70 where steadier snowfall could persist. SLRs in some Southern Utah ranges will likely approach or exceed 14:1, meaning drier and more powdery snow through this period. By Sunday, high pressure builds in, clearing skies and reducing precipitation chances region-wide. Temperatures should gradually rebound, but conditions in most mountains remain cool enough to preserve snow quality through the end of the weekend.
Looking farther ahead, the extended pattern suggests near-normal precipitation and temperatures across much of Utah. Below-normal temperatures in the northwestern states won’t fully penetrate the Great Basin, so don’t expect a deep cold spell, but the lack of strong ridging overhead may allow periodic minor disturbances to track through. While major storms don’t appear likely in the long range, occasional light snow events could pop up in the latter half of next week and beyond, giving the region continued shots of spring snow.
Resort Forecast Totals
- Eagle Point – 7″-13″ Thu (04/17) – Sat night (04/19)
- Alta/Snowbird – 5″-10″ Wed night (04/16) – Sat (04/19)
- Solitude/Brighton – 5″-9″ Wed night (04/16) – Sat (04/19)
- Powder Mountain – 3″-6″ Wed night (04/16) – Fri night (04/18)
- Park City/Deer Valley – 2″-5″ Thu (04/17) – Fri night (04/18)
- Beaver Mountain – 2″-4″ Wed night (04/16) – Fri night (04/18)
