Bracing for a wet holiday season, Salt Lake City residents can expect a series of rainy days leading up to Christmas, according to the National Weather Service. As the city woke this morning, it faced rain, which is forecasted to ease up before 8 am, with humidity standing at 80% and temperatures hovering around a cool 41°F.
Forecasters predict an almost certain chance of precipitation today, peaking at 80%, with the day's high nearing a mild 51 degrees. Light and variable winds are expected. As evening approaches, a 30 percent chance of rain looms over the city, mainly after 11 pm, with the night cooling down to around 40 degrees. After darkness falls, a light and variable wind is forecasted, becoming east southeast around 6 mph.
Looking ahead, Sunday is slated to have a 60 percent likelihood of rainfall, with cloudy skies and a high of 57°F, accompanied by south winds traveling at 6 to 11 mph. Sunday night's outlook isn't too different, marking a 50 percent chance of rainfall, maintaining the cloudy trend with lows dipping to around 48°F, and steady south winds continuing at a pace of 8 to 10 mph.
Commencing the workweek, Monday offers a slight reprieve with a reduced 40 percent chance of rain, though the cloudy overcast persists with highs aiming near 58 degrees. South winds at 6 to 8 mph, they will remain consistent. That night, rain chances decrease to 20 percent before 11 pm, with the skies expected to be mostly cloudy and the thermometer possibly reading a low of 45°F.
The weather pattern seems to hold steady with Tuesday's temperatures poised to climb near 59°F under cloudy conditions, followed by another mostly cloudy evening as temperatures edge down to about 46°F. Midweek forecasts indicate a higher probability of rain, especially post 11 am Wednesday, preceding a rainy night as the low settles around 43°F.
As families gather and holiday dinners are planned, the weather may impose its own agenda on Christmas Day. Rain is again "likely" with a high near 55°F under mainly cloudy skies. The festive mood continues into Thursday night with the likelihood of rain remaining high, potentially cooling the night to around 40 degrees. Finally, Salt Lake City might see a blend of rain and snow on the following Friday, an uncommon guest in a mostly rainy week, as the daytime highs stick close to 51 degrees.
