Salt Lake City woke up on the chilly side Wednesday, with the KSLC airport clocking in at about 39°F at 5:30 a.m. MDT under mostly clear skies. Some outlying valleys slipped to freezing or below, and a Freeze Warning is posted through 9 a.m. MDT Wednesday, April 29. The rebound will be quick, though, with valley highs headed for the low 60s by mid to late afternoon.
Wednesday Snapshot
Plan on mostly sunny skies and a high near 63°F across most of the valley. Light east-southeast breezes around 2 to 8 mph will be common in neighborhoods, with slightly stronger winds near the airport. The odds of measurable rain are very slim, around 5%, so the evening commute should be dry for almost everyone. These timing and temperature details come from the NWS Salt Lake City.
Thursday Into The Weekend
Thursday, April 30, brings the first decent shot at afternoon showers and a few isolated thunderstorms. Action favors the mountains, but there is a 30% chance of storms drifting into the valley after noon. The forecast discussion also flags the possibility of stronger easterly canyon winds along the northern Wasatch Front Thursday night into Friday morning, with a small chance that localized downslope gusts briefly top 50 mph. After that, high pressure starts to build, and temperatures trend warmer into the weekend.
Weekend Warm-Up
Temperatures bounce back in a hurry: highs near 68°F on Friday, climbing into the low to mid 70s on Saturday, then into the upper 70s by Sunday and Monday. A deeper Pacific system is on the table for early next week, which could bring another round of showers and mountain snow above roughly 7,000 to 9,000 feet. If you are planning outdoor time, mid to late afternoon looks like the warmest window, while mountain trips will still call for layers and a fresh look at the forecast before you head out.
Tips For Gardeners And Drivers
Gardeners should keep playing defense through Wednesday morning. Cover tender plants and drain or winterize irrigation lines to head off freeze damage, and bring potted plants inside or cover them overnight. For more on protecting landscaping and irrigation, see our story from last Friday on back-to-back freeze warnings, as per Hoodline. Drivers should be ready for brief bursts of gusty outflow or canyon winds Thursday night, secure loose cargo, and ease off the gas on exposed bridges and canyon roads.
