A winter storm watch has been upgraded to a winter storm warning in the Wasatch Mountains until 11 a.m. Thursday, with a foot or two of “heavy snow” expected, according to the National Weather Service.
The warning is for the mountains both north and south of Interstate 80, and includes the cities of Alta, Brighton, Mantua and Logan Summit. Travel through the mountains could be “very difficult to impossible,” and patchy blowing snow could “significantly reduce” visibility.
There’s a winter storm advisory in northern Utah valleys along the Wasatch Front until 5 a.m. on Thursday. And the weather service warns that “while amounts will not be substantial, any snow that falls on cold, particularly untreated surfaces will have no trouble sticking.
The storm that dumped snow on northern Utah valleys on Wednesday morning, snarling traffic, is expected to taper off by the afternoon, but there’s more snow in the forecast for Wednesday night. In Salt Lake City, 2-4 inches are possible, mostly before 11 a.m., and 3-7 inches could fall on Ogden.) There’s an 80% chance of more snow on Wednesday night, with accumulations of less than half an inch expected.
(National Weather Service) This map shows expected snow totals in Utah from 5 a.m. Wednesday through 5 a.m. Friday.
There’s a slight chance of more snow on Thursday morning before clouds clear that afternoon. The clouds will return on Friday, but no more snow is expected until Saturday. And it won’t just be snow — after 11 a.m. on Saturday, the snow is expected to be mixed with rain.
That rain/snow mix is also in the forecast for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, as daytime high temperatures remain several degrees above freezing. After a high of 32 on Wednesday in Salt Lake City, the forecast calls for 38 on Thursday, 39 on Friday, 40 on Saturday, 39 on Sunday, 40 on Monday and 39 on Tuesday — normal for this time of year. Overnight lows in the low to mid-30s are expected, with the exception of a forecast low of 26 on Thursday night.
According to the Utah Avalanche Center, avalanche danger is “high” in the Salt Lake, Logan, Ogden, Provo, Uintas and Skyline areas, and “considerable” in the Moab area.
In southern Utah, mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures are in the forecast through the end of the work week. In St. George, expect highs in the 55 on Wednesday, 58 on Thursday, 59 on Friday, 58 on Saturday, 51 on Sunday, 52 on Monday and 55 on Tuesday. There’s a slight chance of rain on Saturday; rain is likely on Sunday; and rain will remain possible on Monday and Tuesday.
Follow @ScottDPierce