Salt Lake City, Utah – New long-range federal climate guidance suggests February 2026 may bring near-normal winter precipitation across Utah, with equal chances of rain and snow rather than a dominant winter weather signal.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC), Utah is currently placed in an “equal chances” category for February precipitation type. This designation indicates no statistically significant signal favoring either above-normal snowfall or below-normal winter precipitation compared to long-term February averages.
Equal chances outlooks reflect uncertainty in storm track placement and temperature variability. For Utah, this suggests February 2026 could feature a mix of snow-producing systems, lighter events, and occasional rain or mixed precipitation in lower elevations, depending on storm timing and cold-air depth.
Mountain regions, including the Wasatch Range and higher terrain of northern and central Utah, may still see accumulating snow during stronger Pacific storms. Valleys and lower elevations, including the Wasatch Front, are more sensitive to marginal temperature setups where precipitation type can change quickly.
Temperature outlooks for February indicate near-normal conditions across much of the Great Basin. This temperature profile supports fluctuating winter conditions rather than prolonged extreme cold, increasing uncertainty in precipitation type from system to system.
Neighboring states including Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, and Arizona also show neutral precipitation signals, reinforcing uncertainty in how consistently winter patterns will favor snow versus rain across the interior West.
Commuters, mountain travelers, ski industry workers, and freight operators across Utah are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts as February approaches, when shorter-range outlooks will better clarify storm timing, snowfall potential, and travel impacts.
