Still nothing to ski: no snow on the ground and 49°F at mid-mountain at Alta at 5am. The weekend storm is now close to certain, but the forecast has turned warmer since yesterday. Expect a lot of rain and only a little snow, late, up high.
Through Friday
Sunny and dry. Highs in the low 60s at 9,800 feet at Alta, lows in the mid-40s. The National Weather Service says an isolated shower over the high terrain can’t be ruled out.
The weekend storm
A Pacific trough is expected to pull in moisture from Hurricane Rachel in the eastern Pacific. Forecasters say the models agree on that much. South winds and showers build on Saturday, with thunderstorms likely by afternoon. The heaviest rain is expected Sunday evening into Monday morning, and unsettled weather continues into the middle of next week. Much of Utah is forecast to get 1 to 2 inches of rain.
What changed is the cold air. Yesterday’s forecast had a cold front dropping snow levels onto the upper mountains. Overnight the models shifted toward a low that cuts off from the colder air to the north, so most of this falls as rain at resort elevations. The forecast for Alta has rain and snow showers mixing from Monday, with less than an inch of snow in any period through Tuesday night. The forecast discussion mentions possible mountain snow above 8,500 feet early next week, and says the details need another day or two to firm up.
Roads
Both canyon roads are open with no restrictions. Heavy rain is the thing to watch from Sunday.
Avalanche
The Utah Avalanche Center has no danger rating posted for the Salt Lake zone today.
Compiled at 7:07am from the National Weather Service forecast for Alta and its forecast discussion, SNOTEL snow sensors, Alta’s mountain report, Ski Utah and UDOT.