SALT LAKE CITY — A wave of moisture moving through Utah dropped 4 to 8 inches of new snow at ski resorts across the northern half of Utah on Thursday, but meteorologists say the mountains are still likely to see more than a foot of snow over the next few days will lie for a few days.

National Weather Service winter storm warnings for the northern half of Utah remain in effect through Saturday night, while a winter weather advisory for central Utah expires Friday evening.

Similar warnings extend into southeastern Idaho, along with increased avalanche danger.

Persistent precipitation

In addition to the new snow in the resort, places like Tooele recorded an additional 0.48 inches of precipitation, while places on the Wasatch Front and northern Utah recorded at least 0.1 inches of rain from waves of moisture that passed through the state on Thursday.

“We really delivered a lot of rain (on Thursday),” KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson said.

He explained that the storms were essentially waves from a storm that moved through the state on Wednesday, providing a white Christmas in some areas and a nice dose of precipitation overall across the state after another dry stretch.

Pleasant Grove collected 0.58 inches of rainfall to lead all valley communities for the holiday, while Kaysville added 0.43 inches.

Persistent rain and snow showers are forecast to move through Utah over the next few days. A major wave of rain and snow reached the state Friday morning; It is expected to clear by the end of the afternoon with some flurries remaining in the mountains Friday evening.

Johnson said the next wave of valley rain and mountain snow is expected to cross the northern end of Utah Saturday morning before becoming more scattered and eventually tapering off throughout the day. Another wave is expected to follow on Sunday night, potentially bringing a rain-snow mix in the valleys.

Potentially strong overall results

The intermittent showers have been a little harder to forecast because they are not as organized as a traditional winter storm, but the National Weather Service released a new weather model Friday that shows most mountainous areas are forecast to see at least 8 inches of rainfall additional snow Friday, possibly higher totals Saturday.

It expects Alta could receive up to 13-20 inches on Friday and another 12-18 inches on Saturday, but even higher totals are possible near the Utah-Idaho border. It said up to 13-19 inches of snow was possible at Tony Grove on Friday before another 18-24 inches on Saturday.

A winter storm warning for the Wasatch, West Uinta and Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs Mountains expires at 11 p.m. Saturday, but the weather service says additional snow is also “likely” between Sunday night and Monday morning. The weather service’s office in Pocatello, Idaho, also issued warnings for areas of southeastern Idaho.

A winter weather advisory for the central mountains — where 6 to 12 inches of snow is expected to fall between Thursday and Friday — expires Friday at 11 p.m.

KSL weather models indicate that most Wasatch Front valleys and northern Utah could receive 0.5 to 1 inch of precipitation or more between Friday and Monday, most of which will fall as rain, but some will as snow could fall. Parts of central and eastern Utah could also get away with 0.1 to 0.5 inches; Rain and snow are less likely in southern Utah, which could be skipped by the persistent showers.

Storm impacts

Johnson said some of the showers could come during traditional commute times or as vacationers return.

Utah Department of Transportation officials are advising motorists to exercise “moderate” and “high” caution on most roads in the northern half of Utah. Traction laws were enforced on several mountain passes Thursday and remain in effect in some areas Friday, including Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons in Salt Lake County and US 91 through Sardine Canyon in Box Elder/Cache Counties . These could also be extended into the weekend.

During restrictions, only four-wheel drive or tracked vehicles are allowed on the roads. The chain restrictions could be extended or tightened selectively in other areas in the next few days.

For those recovering in the snow, the Utah Avalanche Center has issued a backcountry avalanche warning covering the Wasatch Mountains and parts of southeast Idaho. Friday’s warning expires Saturday morning, but similar warnings are expected to be issued in the next few days.

The agency’s meteorologists believe the danger of avalanches could increase as new snow falls on the “weak layers” in the mountains. They recommend avoiding inclines of 30 degrees or more.

A drier end to 2024

Skies are expected to clear after Monday.

Dry and cool temperatures are currently forecast for late 2024 and early 2025.

Complete seven-day forecasts for areas across Utah can be found online at the KSL Weather Center.