Utah Weather and Snow Report
Utah Climate
The Greatest Snow on Earth...Really!
Utah's climate is world famous and attracts skiers, outdoor enthusiasts, and families worldwide.
It widely varies by season and mountain region. Salt Lake City lies in a valley, which is surrounded by mountains and the Great Salt Lake. Our climate is considered sub-humid, but not semi-arid as often claimed. We experience dry summers and wet winters with world famous light fluffy snow that skiers and snowboarders from all over the world flock to. This light fluffy powder is unique and results from the lake effect of our Great Salt Lake to the west of Salt Lake City.
Temperatures in the summer can get as hot at 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter can get as cold as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter and summer air is a dry air. Summers are hot, frequently reaching above 100°F (38°C), while winters are cold and snowy. However, winters are warmer than one would expect at this elevation and latitude, due to the Rocky Mountains to the east and north that usually block powerful polar highs from affecting the state during the winter. Temperatures rarely fall below 0°F (-18 °C), but frequently stay below freezing. Temperature inversions during winter can lead to thick overnight fog and daytime haze in the valley as cool air, moisture, and pollutants are trapped in the valley by surrounding mountains.
Enjoy Four Seasons
Utah is known for its four distinct seasons, with a cold, snowy winter, a hot, dry summer, and comfortable, relatively wet transition periods. The Pacific Ocean is the primary influence on the weather, contributing storms from about October to May, with spring being the wettest season. Snow falls frequently during the winter, contributed largely by the lake-effect from the Great Salt Lake.
Utah is known for its four distinct seasons, with a cold, snowy winter, a hot, dry summer, and comfortable, relatively wet transition periods. The Pacific Ocean is the primary influence on the weather, contributing storms from about October to May, with spring being the wettest season. Snow falls frequently during the winter, contributed largely by the lake-effect from the Great Salt Lake.
