SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Utah wakes to mild, dry air this Wednesday morning, but clouds will soon build along the Wasatch Front as the state shifts toward a cooler, wetter pattern by late week. Temperatures will climb into the lower 70s before the next Pacific system sweeps across northern Utah, bringing the best rain chances Thursday and early Friday.
According to the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, a 40 percent chance of rain develops Thursday morning, tapering through midday as the front passes. Gusty south winds up to 15 mph will precede the moisture, then turn calm as temperatures fall back into the mid-50s. Drivers along I-80 and I-15 should expect brief wet pavement and reduced visibility in showers, especially during the Thursday morning commute. Higher elevations in Big Cottonwood Canyon and Parleys Summit could see a light rain-snow mix, marking one of the first winter hints of the season.
The rest of the weekend trends cooler but calmer, with highs in the 50s and plenty of sun returning Saturday and Sunday. It’ll feel crisp — perfect for leaf cleanup, pre-holiday errands, or early Christmas decorating before a sharper cooldown arrives next week.
Long-range models suggest another system near Veterans Day that could deliver a more widespread rain-to-snow transition across the Wasatch and northern valleys. For now, residents can enjoy one last stretch of mild November afternoons before the seasonal chill settles in for good.
Five-Day Forecast for Salt Lake City, UT:
Wed: 72/46 – Increasing clouds; warm and breezy late.
Thu: 56/42 – Rain early; turning mostly sunny and cooler.
Fri: 57/41 – Slight chance of rain; partly sunny and brisk.
Sat: 56/37 – Mostly sunny; pleasant fall day.
Sun: 59/41 – Partly cloudy; dry and seasonable before next week’s chill.
