Photo: Moisture Transport Prediction Map // UofU Department of Atmospheric Sciences

Temperatures and snow depths will rise today before a lull in activity overnight into Sunday when a strong cold front and additional snowfall arrive Sunday evening

PARK CITY, Utah – The first phase of the multi-day winter storm that began Thursday morning and dumped 14-25 inches of snow in the Wasatch is now behind us. However, snowfall is increasing again this morning and will continue until midnight as we enter the first of two new storm periods.

A warm, very moist atmospheric river is currently flowing into Utah, causing snow levels to rise to about 7,500 feet by this afternoon. The base areas of the ski areas in Park City and Deer Valley could see a rain-snow mix and possibly mostly rain.

Today, a total of 7 to 14 inches of wet, dense snow is expected. Snowfall will taper off quickly around midnight this evening as strong south-westerly winds help keep moisture to our north.

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Warm temperatures and gusty winds will persist through Sunday evening, then a strong cold front is expected to arrive Sunday night into early Monday morning. This final stretch of the storm cycle should produce an additional 6 to 12 inches of snow for the central Wasatch, with significantly less snow density due to the arrival of much colder air.

The snowfall is expected to taper off by early Monday afternoon, but could continue in the Cottonwood Canyons as the cold northwest flow continues. Overnight temperatures in Park City could dip into the single digits Tuesday morning as the storm subsides.

Current snow levels, Thursday morning through 8 a.m. Saturday

• Park City/Deer Valley: 14-18 inches of snow
• Brighton / Solitude (BCC): 18-22 inches of snow
• Alta (LCC): 25 inches of snow, 2.38 inches of liquid water content

Warnings for winter storms and avalanches

The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City has issued a winter storm warning for the Wasatch Mountains that lasts until 11 p.m. Saturday night. The Utah Avalanche Center has issued an avalanche warning until 6 a.m. Sunday morning. “Heavy snowfall combined with strong winds is resulting in extensive areas of unstable snow. Both human-triggered and natural avalanches are likely,” the UAC website says. A large natural avalanche was reported along the Park City mountain range on Friday.

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