Thursday was one for the record books, as record high temperatures were reported across the Wasatch Front and Tooele Valley, as well as parts of central and northern Utah.
The temperature capped at 73 degrees in Salt Lake City, topping a daily record dating back to 1953.
However, that record warmth is set to give way to a mix of valley rain and mountain snow, snapping a dry stretch that has already delayed the openings for Utah’s ski season.
Storm timing
A low-pressure system off the California coast will play into Utah’s pattern this weekend, says KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson. But — much like most of the Western storm activity over the past few weeks — it’s a cutoff low-pressure system, which he warns can be difficult to forecast the exact path or strength of the system.
Some small showers have already popped up around southwest Utah and in parts of the state’s mountains, but Friday is expected to remain generally dry.
Weather models project that storm activity will pick up in southwest Utah as the storm churns east, delivering a mix of showers and thunderstorms — and some high-elevation snow — throughout the evening and overnight hours. Those will begin to expand to other parts of the state early Sunday and continue at times throughout the day, Johnson said.
🏔️❄️ Active weather returns this weekend, with the first storm system producing statewide mountain snow between Saturday and early Monday.
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) November 13, 2025
Model guidance indicates a colder system arriving early in the work week, with the potential for even more snowfall. #utwx #wywx pic.twitter.com/TmkNCXbkCp
“And then we get rain chances through Tuesday — we like to see that,” he said. “(It’s) great news to get this rain, as we’ve had a really dry first half of the month.”
Potential accumulations
While exact totals might be difficult to project, the National Weather Service says valley rainfall could exceed an inch across parts of southwest Utah by Monday morning. Lower amounts are forecast for the state’s northern half, but the agency says up to a third of an inch or more is possible near Salt Lake City by the end of Monday.
Federal forecasters also anticipate that snow levels could drop to approximately 7,000 feet elevation, with the most accumulation beginning closer to 8,000 feet elevation. They anticipate that the storm will deliver about a half-foot of snow or more across the state’s mountains by early Monday.
Most of it could land near Brian Head Resort in Iron County, which is expected to receive 9 inches of snow by then, according to weather service models. There’s about a 15% probability that it could receive at least a foot of snow, too.
It comes as the resort has already postponed its opening day twice because of the lack of snow. The forecast offers hope that it will be able to operate on Nov. 21, its new scheduled opening date.
Meanwhile, high temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-60s across the Wasatch Front on Friday and Saturday, before dropping back into the mid-50s on Sunday and Monday.
More to come?
After a record-setting October, this month has been quite dry. Salt Lake City has only collected a trace of rain after receiving 5.12 inches of precipitation last month — its fifth-wettest month ever.
Yet, long-range models suggest the incoming storm could open the door for more storm activity as Utah enters the second half of the month. Rain and snow accumulations are expected. KSL Weather models suggest each storm will bring colder temperatures, which could translate into the first valley snow of the season for some communities.
Utah could be in for a wet Thanksgiving as part of it. All parts of the state have slightly elevated odds of above-normal precipitation over the next two weeks, according to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center.
It’ll help Utah’s resorts finally launch in time for the holidays, should the forecast come to fruition.
Full seven-day forecasts for areas across Utah can be found online at the KSL Weather Center.