Utah – A soft orange light spills over the Wasatch Range this morning, brushing snowcaps in the distance while the valley below stays clear and calm. Across Salt Lake City, travelers and early commuters move easily under fair skies — a quiet start before winter hints begin to reappear later in the weekend.
According to the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, Thanksgiving Day will be bright and mild, with highs reaching near 56°F and calm, light winds. It’s ideal weather for holiday travel along I-15, I-80, and U.S. 89, with dry roads and crisp, late-fall air for parades, hikes, or outdoor gatherings.
Friday continues mostly sunny and slightly cooler, with highs near 53°F, before a developing Pacific system approaches from the west late Saturday. That system is expected to introduce a mix of rain and snow beginning Saturday night, especially along the Wasatch Front and mountain passes.
Forecasters note temperatures will drop near freezing by early Sunday, raising the chance for a light snow accumulation or brief icy spots on bridges and elevated roads. The best chance for mixed precipitation appears late Saturday through early Sunday morning.
After the brief system clears, colder, drier air moves in to close the weekend, with highs in the low 40s and lows dipping into the mid-20s.
Looking ahead, long-range models hint at a stronger Arctic front by December 1–5, potentially delivering heavier mountain snow and widespread cold across the Intermountain West — a true winter weather tease that could mark the region’s first widespread freeze of the season.
For now, Utahns can enjoy a postcard-perfect Thanksgiving before the next winter shift begins its slow approach from the Pacific.
