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Winter weather warning: Salt Lake City could get a foot of snow this week

National Weather Service issues warning for 5 p.m. Tuesday-11 a.m. Wednesday.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Morning snow is cleared in Salt Lake City, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. Another storm is expected to hit Utah Tuesday night and continue through Friday morning.

  | Dec. 14, 2021, 3:36 p.m.
| Updated: 5:58 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings and weather advisories for much of Utah as a storm takes aim at the state. The Salt Lake City area could see a foot or more of snow accumulation by the end of the week.

It will be cloudy and relatively warm – about 44 degrees — on Tuesday in the Salt Lake City area, with south winds of 20-29 mph and gusts of up to 43 mph. There’s an 80% chance of rain, possibly mixed with snow, after 5 p.m.

The weather service has issued a winter storm warning that begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday and continues until 11 a.m. Wednesday for the Salt Lake City area. There’s a 100% chance of snow after 8 p.m. Tuesday, which could be heavy at times as temperatures fall to the low 20s. Between 4-8 inches of accumulation is possible.

There’s a 50% chance that snow will continue Wednesday morning, mostly before 11 a.m., and temperatures will only reach the mid-20s. Less than an inch of accumulation possible.

Snow will taper off on Wednesday afternoon, but pick up again on Wednesday night. There’s a 50% chance of snow after 11 p.m. Wednesday, with another inch of accumulation possible.

On Thursday, another storm moves in — bringing a 90% chance of snow, with 2-4 more inches possible. And on Thursday night, there’s a 40% chance of snow, with 1-2 more inches possible.

The last of that snowstorm will head out on Friday — there’s a slight chance of more snow Friday morning. But it’s going to be cold. The forecast calls for highs in the 20s through the weekend.

Higher elevations

In the higher elevations, a winter storm warning will be in effect from 5 p.m. Tuesday until 11 a.m. Wednesday. Snow accumulations of 1-2 feet and wind gusts as high as 50 mph are possible in the Wasatch Mountains, the central mountains, the southern mountains, the Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs and the western Uinta Mountains.

Travel could be “very difficult to impossible,” according to the National Weather Service.

Southern Utah

In southern Utah, a winter weather advisory will be in effect from 11 p.m. Tuesday until 11 a.m. Wednesday, affecting Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks, the Sevier Valley and cities including Richfield, Salina, Springdale, Languish, Kanab, Escalante, Loa and Torrey.

Snow of accumulation of 3-6 inches is expected in Bryce Canyon, and 1-3 inches elsewhere, with wind gusts up to 50 mph. Travel may be “very difficult,” according to the National Weather Service.