Kolbie PetersonAfter all the mild, hazy, sunny and dry weather Utah’s been having, it’s time to shake things up.
A slow-moving storm is expected to impact the southern half of the state Tuesday through early Friday this week, bringing widespread valley rain and mountain snow, according to a weather advisory issued Sunday by the National Weather Service.
Cedar City, Kanab and Escalante can expect 1-1.5 inches, Capitol Reef National Park could see 0.5-1 inch of precipitation, and even drought-stricken St. George, which has been setting records it doesn’t want with the number of days it has gone without rain, can expect to get 1-1.5 inches. That’s more than the total the city has received since May 15, according to the National Weather Service.
On Tuesday, the rain will develop across southern Utah, and 1-2 feet of snow is expected to fall above 7,500 to 8,000 feet. In the mountains, “significant” snowfall is expected, especially between the Pine Valley Mountains and Boulder Summit, and drivers are advised to exercise caution.
On Wednesday and Thursday, moderate and sometimes heavy rain will fall in the area, and the snow levels will drop to 6,500 to 7,000 feet. There is a chance of urban “drainage issues” due to the heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service, and dry washes and small streams may also run high.
By Thursday evening, the rain will begin to let up, and snow levels will fall to 6,500 to 6,000 feet.
For more weather news, visit www.sltrib.com/weather.
Kolbie Peterson reports on food, drink and small business for The Salt Lake Tribune and also writes the Utah Eats newsletter. She previously covered breaking news, crime and public safety as part of The Tribune's enterprise team. She received her bachelor's degree at Westminster University, back when it was Westminster College. She has five cats.