For most Utahns, Christmas will be more wet than white, according to the National Weather Service.
A series of storms is heading for the state, but most Utahns will see more rain than snow — at least through Christmas Day. Unless you’re in the mountains, which are expected to get buried by snow.
The first storm will arrive in Salt Lake City on Thursday afternoon — there’s an 80% chance of precipitation. Expect a high of 49 and rain from mid-afternoon until about 8 p.m., when it changes to a mix of rain and snow. There’s a 100% chance of precipitation overnight, and temperatures are expected to remain slightly above freezing.
The storm will scour out the inversion and pollution in Utah’s valleys. According to the Utah Division of Environmental Quality, air quality will be green/good across the state by Thursday night.
On Friday, it’ll be more of the same — a high of 43 and a 90% chance of rain and snow, becoming all rain after 5 p.m. If there’s any snow accumulation, it will be less than half an inch.
On Christmas Eve, there’s a 70% chance of rain before 8 p.m., and rain mixed with snow between 8 p.m.-2 a.m. There’s a chance of some snow after 2 a.m., but less than half an inch is expected.
And it’s pretty much a repeat on Christmas Day. Temperatures will be in the low 40s, and there’s 50% chance of snow before 11 a.m., when it changes to a mix of rain and snow. Less than half an inch of snow accumulation is forecast.
The snow won’t stop after Christmas, however. A series of storms will bring a chance of snow Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. High temperatures will fall to the mid-30s on Sunday and Monday, and to about 30 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
(National Weather Service) There's a winter storm warning in Utah's mountains.
It’s going to be considerably different in Utah’s mountains. A winter storm warning is in effect until Saturday at 5 a.m. in the Wasatch Mountains and the Western Uintas. Expect 1-2 feet and up to 3 feet in some areas, with wind gusts up to 50 mph. Travel will be “very difficult to impossible,” according to the National Weather Service.
A winter storm warning is also in effect in the Wasatch Back until 5 a.m. Saturday. There could be 5-15 inches of snow — and higher amounts from Park City to Kamas — making travel “very difficult.”
And there are winter weather advisories in several areas. From noon Thursday-5 a.m. Saturday, the Bear Lake, Bear River Valley and western Uinta Basin could see 5-15 inches of snow — more in some areas — and winds gusting to 50 mph. And from 5 p.m. Thursday-5 a.m. Saturday, mountains in central and southern Utah will get hit with 4-10 inches of snow and winds gusting to 45 mph.
There’s no snow but plenty of rain in the Christmas forecast for lower elevations of southern Utah. Rain is expected to begin Thursday afternoon in St. George — there’s a 100% chance of precipitation there Thursday night and Friday; a 60% chance on Christmas Eve, a 40% chance on Christmas Day, and a 70% chance on Christmas night — with daytime highs in the mid-50s. The forecast calls for rain to continue Sunday and Monday, and there’s a chance of rain mixed with snow on Tuesday and Wednesday as temperatures fall to the mid-40s.
