Salt Lake City wakes up on the chilly side Sunday, clear and about 39°F with light east winds and dry skies. By midafternoon, though, temperatures will shoot into the upper 60s, even as low-lying pockets and sheltered spots hang onto enough cold air for frost. A Freeze Warning is in effect through 9 a.m. MDT Sunday for parts of northern Utah, so it is still a cover-the-tender-plants and wrap-the-outdoor-faucets kind of morning.
Afternoon Warmup Through Midweek
Sunshine takes over Sunday with a high near 67°F and light northwest breezes in the afternoon. The warmup keeps going Monday and Tuesday, with highs near 72°F and 73°F, roughly 5 to 10 degrees above normal for early April. A weak disturbance on Monday afternoon could kick up some high-based showers or an isolated thunderstorm over southern Utah and the higher central Utah terrain, with gusty outflow winds possible. Most valley locations should stay dry, according to the National Weather Service.
Why This Matters
This early-week stretch of warmth follows an unusually hot March across the West that set numerous records and helped shrink snowpacks, a combination that can play into how runoff behaves and how late-week storms evolve. Weather.com has highlighted just how widespread that March warmth was across the region. On the ground in northern Utah, it translates into earlier mosquito activity and a faster-than-usual spring ramp-up for outdoor projects.
Practical Tips
Keep plants and other sensitive vegetation protected through 9 a.m. Sunday, and hold off on transplanting until overnight lows stay consistently above freezing. If you are heading into the mountains later in the week, plan for the usual spring curveballs: late-day showers or thunderstorms are possible, so bring layers and keep lightning safety in mind.
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