It’ll be T-shirt weather on Monday in Salt Lake City, with highs near 70, but don’t pack away the parkas yet. Believe it or not, the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Tuesday afternoon through Thursday morning.
According to the NWS, a “cold, late-season winter storm will bring accumulating snow to much of northern and central Utah” on Tuesday, with snow levels falling to the valley floors.
How much snow? The NWS warns local residents to expect up to 3 inches on the valley floors; 4-9 inches along the benches; and 1-2 feet in the mountains.
The forecast calls for “intense snow showers” as a cold front moves through Utah on Tuesday, which will be followed by a “prolonged period of steady snow” in the mountains. The heaviest snowfall is expected across the central and southern Wasatch Mountains and central Utah mountains.
And it warns of “occasional winter driving conditions” from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning across all of northern and central Utah. Travel may be "very difficult through the mountain passes.”
The storm could result in damage to trees, particularly those that already have leaves, and falling trees or branches “may cause property damage and/or power outages.”
In addition, high winds are expected from the Salt Lake City west to the Nevada border from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning. Gusts in excess of 58 miles per hour are possible. The winds may impact high-profile and light vehicles, and blowing salt and dust may reduce visibility.
Temperatures will reach the upper 50s on Tuesday before the cold front moves in, with overnight lows in the low- to mid-30s. The highs on Wednesday and Thursday are forecast in the mid-40s.
The storm is expected to end by Friday, with temperatures rising into the low 50s.
