Salt Lake City, UT – Utah residents are preparing for a wet and snowy weekend as the season’s first significant cold front moves through the state, bringing thunderstorms, heavy rain, and measurable snowfall to higher elevations.
According to the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop Friday afternoon and evening across northern and eastern Utah before heavier precipitation arrives overnight. The strongest wave of moisture is expected late Friday into Saturday morning, when snow levels will rapidly drop to elevations between 8,000 and 9,000 feet.
Forecasters say the Wasatch Mountains and parts of northern Utah could see the first measurable snowfall of the fall season, with terrain-enhanced showers continuing into early Sunday morning. While valley locations are expected to receive steady rain, higher elevations may experience travel impacts on mountain passes and backcountry roads.
The weather system is also expected to benefit drought-affected areas, delivering up to half an inch of rainfall across northern Utah through Sunday. However, those traveling to the mountains should prepare for rapidly changing weather, slick conditions, and possible snow accumulation at higher elevations.
This weekend marks a sharp transition toward cooler fall weather, with forecasters warning that additional storm systems could follow in the weeks ahead.
