Warning issued for components of Utah forward of ‘important’ late season winter storm

SALT LAKE CITY — Winter shouldn’t be over but in Utah’s mountains.

The Nationwide Climate Service issued a winter storm warning for the Wasatch and Western Uinta mountains forward of a “important late season storm” that might dump as a lot as 1 to 2 ft in components of the area between Sunday and Tuesday.

“Important mountain snow throughout northern Utah is anticipated by means of this time, with the heaviest interval anticipated on Sunday,” the company wrote on X, previously often called Twitter.

KSL meteorologist Kevin Eubank mentioned some valley communities in northern Utah might additionally obtain over an inch of rain by Monday evening.

Storm timing

The storm is anticipated to comply with a a lot smaller system that delivered a couple of inches of mountain snow Friday morning. It was dumping moisture into components of the Oregon and Washington coasts Friday afternoon, however it’s forecast to maneuver southeast, arriving in Utah by Sunday morning, Eubank mentioned.

However robust winds will affect communities first. The Nationwide Climate Service issued excessive wind warnings and wind advisories for many of western Utah, the place wind gusts of as much as 55 to 60 mph are forecast between Saturday afternoon and the primary half of Sunday.

That might end in some harm, together with downed timber and powerlines.

The winds are projected to settle down as a chilly entrance strikes by means of the state. The storm will deliver a mixture of rain and thunderstorms within the valleys, whereas snow will fall within the mountains.

“It is bought chilly air, it is bought ample moisture and it is actually going to hit northern Utah additional laborious,” Eubank mentioned. “It rains all day Sunday and lingers into Monday. … After which even into Tuesday we’re coping with rain.”

Eubank provides there an opportunity a number of the rain will flip to snow at bench ranges on Monday, however it might not end in a lot accumulation. The system is at present forecast to filter out by Tuesday.

Excessive temperatures alongside the Wasatch Entrance are forecast to drop from the higher 70s on Saturday to low-to-mid 50s by the beginning of subsequent week. Highs close to St. George can even slide from the mid-80s to higher 60s and decrease 70s, however are forecast to return to the higher 70s by Tuesday.

Storm accumulations

About 8 to 16 inches of snow is forecast for many of the areas throughout the storm warning, however the climate service notes that as much as 2 ft of snow is feasible in higher components of the Cottonwood Canyons and the mountains close to Ogden.

“Winter driving circumstances are anticipated, particularly above 7,500 ft,” the warning states. “These within the backcountry will expertise winter-like circumstances.”

A lot decrease snow totals are forecast for the central and southern mountain ranges.

Eubank mentioned most moisture is anticipated to finish up close to Nephi and areas north. KSL Climate fashions up to date on Friday present it has the potential to ship about 1 to 1.25 inches of rain between Provo and Logan with larger totals within the bench areas.

The identical mannequin means that as much as a half-inch is feasible in central Utah, whereas components of southern Utah might obtain as much as a tenth of an inch of precipitation. All the numbers might change because the storm arrives.

Storm affect

The incoming storm comes as Utah’s above-normal snowpack continues to soften. Whereas a storm final week put Weber County officers on alert for flooding issues, the Nationwide Climate Service is extra optimistic that this weekend’s storm will not be as problematic due to its dynamics.

Sam Webber, a meteorologist for the Nationwide Climate Service, mentioned it seems that will probably be chilly sufficient to keep away from rain falling on snow, which hurries up the snowmelt course of and causes flooding. That is as a result of many of the remaining snow is within the excessive elevations.

“There is not any concern for flooding proper now,” he mentioned. “We’ll maintain observe of it. We’ll see some rises on a number of the creeks and streams — form of the pure response to a rise in water — however it seems will probably be throughout the capability of the drainages.”

Utah’s common mountain snowpack is down to eight.8 inches of snow water equal, rather less than half of the height of 18.8 inches on April 2.

Full seven-day forecasts for areas throughout Utah may be discovered on-line, on the KSL Climate Heart.