Salt Lake City, Utah – Salt Lake City finished January 2026 with only a trace of snow, placing it among the lowest snowfall totals in the nation for the month.
According to the National Weather Service Salt Lake City, anomalous weather patterns kept snow activity limited across northern Utah, while widespread snowfall impacted much of the eastern United States. A map released Monday shows that a majority of U.S. cities recorded more snow than Salt Lake City during January.
Several cities across the country far exceeded Salt Lake City’s total. Marquette, Michigan recorded 61.9 inches, Buffalo, New York saw 36.6 inches, and Boston, Massachusetts reported 29.8 inches. Even cities not typically associated with heavy snow, including Atlanta, Georgia (0.2 inches) and Dallas, Texas (2.4 inches), surpassed Salt Lake City’s monthly total.
In the western United States, cities such as Denver, Colorado (6.6 inches), Flagstaff, Arizona (7.3 inches) and Juneau, Alaska (21.1 inches) all reported measurable snowfall. Meanwhile, Salt Lake City remained nearly snow-free despite its proximity to the Wasatch Mountains.
The National Weather Service attributed the lack of snow to persistent ridging and anomalous cold bridging, which redirected storm systems away from northern Utah and toward the central and eastern portions of the country.
Travel corridors including I-15, I-80 and I-215 experienced minimal winter weather impacts during the month, a notable contrast to typical January conditions when snow and ice frequently affect commuting and travel in the Salt Lake Valley.
For skiers, commuters and water managers, the January snowfall deficit stands out as a significant departure from normal winter patterns. While mountain snowfall varied by location, valley totals remained unusually low.
The National Weather Service emphasized that monthly snowfall trends can shift quickly and encouraged residents to monitor forecasts as winter continues.
