Snow expected in Salt Lake City, with winter storm watches issued for much of Utah

The National Weather Service this week issued several winter storm watches covering much of Utah through Friday.

Salt Lake City is expected to see a total of 4-6 inches of snow between Thursday and Friday, with 2-3 inches expected in Ogden, 3-4 inches expected in Provo and 8-12 inches expected in Park City.

The worst of the weather is expected to hit northern Utah early Thursday, before heavier snowfall moves to central and southern Utah on Thursday afternoon and evening.

In Salt Lake City, there’s a forecast high of 34 degrees on Thursday with a 100% chance of snow. There’s a 50% chance of more snow on Thursday night, as temperatures drop into the low 20s.

And still more snow is expected on Friday, with an 80% chance of precipitation mainly before 11 a.m. Temperatures will remain below freezing — the forecast high is 31 with an overnight low of 17 degrees.

The weekend will bring clearer weather, though it will still be cold. Saturday should be mostly sunny with a high of 36 degrees, and Sunday should be mostly sunny with a high of 42, according to the weather service.

Storm watches

The weather service’s winter storm watches will affect much of the state.

• The first includes the Wasatch Mountains north of Interstate 80 and the western Uinta Mountains along with Mantua, Logan Summit, Mirror Lake Highway and Moon Lake.

The storm watch runs through Thursday afternoon. Snow accumulations of 8-18 inches are possible in the mountains, with wind gusts up to 35 mph — making travel “very difficult,” according to the weather service.

• The second includes the Wasatch Back, the Wasatch Mountains south of I-80, the Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs and Huntsville, Park City, Heber City, Alta, Brighton, Scofield and Indian Canyon.

The storm watch runs through Friday afternoon. Precipitation may start as rain in the valleys before switching to snow; 4-10 inches of snow is expected in the Wasatch Back and 1-2 feet in the mountains, with wind gusts of up to 35 mph possible, causing “very difficult” travel conditions, the weather service advised.

• The third includes Millard and Juab counties, the central and southern Utah mountains, southwest Utah and Delta, Little Sahara, Nephi, Scipio, Fillmore, Cove Fort, Fish Lake, Joes Valley, Beaver, Cedar City, Milford, Brian Head and Alton.

The storm watch runs through Friday afternoon. Precipitation may start as rain in the valleys before switching to snow; 2-6 inches of snow is possible in the valleys with 1-2 feet possible in the mountains.

• The fourth includes the eastern Uinta Mountains, the Tavaputs Plateau and the cities of Manila and Dutch John.

The storm watch runs through Friday morning. Total snow accumulations of 6-12 inches are possible, with wind gusts of up to 35 mph. Patchy, blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility while traveling, particularly over mountain passes, the weather service advised.

• The fifth includes the La Sal and Abajo Mountains, with 6-12 inches of snow and wind gusts of up to 35 mph possible above 7,000 feet elevation. The storm watch runs through Friday morning.

In St. George, there’s a 100% chance of rain on Thursday, with a 90% chance of rain — and possible snow — in the evening. Daytime highs will be in the 40s and 50s through the weekend, with overnight lows in the 20s and 30s.