Salt Lake City is starting the day on a calm note, with clear skies over Salt Lake City International, temperatures in the mid-40s, and a south southeast breeze quietly spinning up. It will feel relatively mild this afternoon, with a high near 56°F, before winds crank up later today and into Monday. That mild break will be short-lived as a wetter, colder pattern moves in by midweek.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Southerly winds are expected to strengthen after sunrise and turn gusty by late morning, with gusts around 25 to 35 mph (20 to 30 knots) likely and elevated winds hanging on into midweek. Those gusts could jostle high-profile vehicles, rearrange your patio furniture, and stir up canyon ventilation. This wind pattern is highlighted by the National Weather Service.
Storm Timing And Valley Snow Risk
A series of systems arrives late Monday, February 16, and ramps up into Tuesday, February 17, first bringing rain to valley streets and heavy, wet snow to the mountains. Snow levels should sink toward 4,500 to 5,000 feet by Tuesday morning. Many mountain spots are forecast to pick up roughly 1 to 2 feet of snow, while valley neighborhoods could see about 1 to 6 inches, with higher totals on the benches and near Cedar City. This is an update to our earlier coverage of the storm preview, as per Hoodline.
Plan For Slower Canyons And Road Delays
Drivers should plan for slower going in Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, Parley’s, and along I-15 canyon routes, especially Tuesday night into Wednesday when higher roads are expected to turn snow-covered. Before you head out, check live road cameras and travel alerts on UDOT Traffic, and bring traction devices if you will be driving through the passes. If your trip is flexible, consider holding off until road crews have had time to clear the main routes.
What Skiers Should Know
Ski areas look poised for a healthy refresh through midweek, with significant new snowfall on the way. The catch is that this system leans heavily and wet, which could mean plenty of avalanche control work and intermittent impacts on lifts or mountain access, depending on how conditions evolve. Check resort updates before heading up, and for the latest timing and details, follow the National Weather Service.
