Salt Lake City is waking up clear and mild Monday, but the afternoon still has a summer-like surprise in store: a high near 87 degrees. The warmth will continue through much of the week before a chance of showers and cooler temperatures arrives late in the weekend. The National Weather Service forecast calls for a high near 87.
Monday Brings Near-Record Warmth
Monday will be mostly sunny, with temperatures climbing through the 80s and peaking near 87 degrees. The National Weather Service says highs will approach daily records, including the 87-degree record at the Salt Lake City airport. The airport-area forecast is 87 degrees, and the Salt Lake City forecast discussion says some locations may approach daily records.
Rain is not expected in the valley Monday, and southerly winds are expected to shift to the northwest between 19Z and 21Z. No watches or warnings are listed for the Salt Lake Valley on the National Weather Service forecast page. The NWS forecast for Salt Lake City gives the wind and precipitation outlook and displays local alerts.
Small Shower Chance Tuesday
Tuesday will remain warm, with a high near 83 degrees and mostly sunny skies in Salt Lake City. A weak weather system could bring a few showers or thunderstorms, mainly over higher terrain; the valley’s rain chances remain low. The NWS point forecast gives Tuesday’s high as 83, while its forecast discussion places the main shower and thunderstorm focus over higher terrain.
Mostly sunny and largely dry weather is forecast Wednesday through Friday, with afternoon highs near 83 degrees. Overnight lows will be in the upper 50s, offering a modest break from the daytime warmth. The National Weather Service forecast gives highs of 83 Wednesday and Thursday, with lows near 57.
Cooler, Wetter Weekend Ahead
Saturday should remain sunny and mild, with a high near 81 degrees. The forecast turns more unsettled Saturday night and Sunday, when showers or thunderstorms are possible; Sunday’s high is forecast near 71 degrees. The NWS forecast shows a Saturday high near 81 and a chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday night and Sunday, with Sunday near 71.
That weekend cooldown could mark the first meaningful shift toward fall after several unusually warm days. Forecasters expect temperatures to drop significantly late this weekend into early next week, with the potential for more active weather as the next storm system moves through.
Snowpack matters well beyond ski season: it is the source of about 95% of Utah’s water, and its gradual melt replenishes reservoirs and streamflows. That makes the distinction in this forecast important: the NWS expects the Tuesday system’s best shower and thunderstorm chances over higher terrain, while Salt Lake Valley stays mostly dry. The state’s water agency says snowpack measurements help guide water-supply management and drought planning, so meaningful relief depends on mountain conditions over the season, not just a warm-week forecast or isolated valley rain. The Utah Division of Water Resources explains snowpack’s role in the state’s supply.
The warm spell arrives as Utah enters a strained water year. The state’s Division of Water Resources says last season’s snowpack peaked at a record-low 8.4 inches of snow water equivalent on March 9—about half of normal—and reservoir storage began the new water year at 50% full, 9% below usual. The agency says all of Utah is in drought, with a quarter of the state in extreme drought; a brief valley shower would not erase that broader deficit. Utah’s fall 2026 water update lays out the figures.
