SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – NOAA’s Winter 2025–2026 outlook, released Thursday, Oct. 16, points to a cold, snowy season ahead for Utah — one that could linger into March as La Niña steers steady Pacific storms into the Intermountain West. The Climate Prediction Center’s guidance calls for above-normal precipitation and below-normal temperatures across much of the state, including both the Wasatch Front and the high plateaus.
According to the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, “This pattern supports frequent mountain snow and several cold-air intrusions into the valleys.” Heaviest accumulations are expected in the Wasatch and Uintas, with Park City, Alta, and Logan likely to build deep snowpack through February. Lower elevations such as Provo and Ogden may see alternating rounds of snow, sleet, and freezing fog during Arctic surges.
Forecasters identify mid-January through late February as the core of the storm season, when multiple systems could drop heavy snow across I-80 and I-15 corridors. Travel through Parleys Canyon and Sardine Canyon may be periodically restricted due to snow, wind, and avalanche control operations.
NOAA warns that colder-than-average air could persist into March, delaying snowmelt and extending avalanche risk. While the pattern favors strong water storage gains for reservoirs, rural areas may struggle with prolonged cold and icy roads.
For Utah, Winter 2026 looks like a full return to classic mountain form — snow-heavy, slow to warm, and demanding of early, steady preparation across the state.
