High Wind in Utah, December 24 to 25, 2025

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
343 PM MST Wed Dec 24 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Record warm temperatures will continue through Thursday.

- Wind gusts in excess of 45 mph will continue across western Utah
  through Friday afternoon. Areas of blowing dust may reduce
  visibilities at times below 5 miles.

- 6 to 12 inches of snow is expected across the southern mountains
  above 8500 feet and western Uinta Mountains above 9000 feet
  Wednesday into late Thursday.

- Moderate to heavy rain will occur across southern Utah below
  8500 feet through Thursday. Expect enhanced runoff across this
  area, with all streams, slot canyons, and other waterways
  running high.

- There is a less than 25 percent chance of measurable snow for
  valley floors of northern Utah Saturday morning.

- 8 to 14 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 20 inches, of
  snow will occur across the higher terrain of Utah Friday
  through Sunday morning.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Widespread light to moderate rain is ongoing across
southern Utah as an atmospheric river moves inland. The biggest
rain totals have been tied to the terrain of southern Utah, while
the lower elevations have seen just light on-and-off rain
throughout the day. Areas such as the Forsyth Burn Scar in the
Pine Valleys have already picked up close to 2 inches of water
with elevated flows along the Santa Clara River. The heaviest
precipitation is still trekking across the desert southwest and
will move into southwestern Utah overnight. This will be the
period in which all of southwestern Utah sees widespread moderate,
to at times heavy, rain, including the lower elevations. The
window for the highest rainfall rates will be from ~9pm to ~3am
before conditions become more showery.

Elsewhere across Utah expect mostly light precipitation with
pockets of moderate precipitation, however strong southerly flow
will shadow certain areas, such as the Salt Lake Valley, resulting
in only minor rain accumulations. Additionally, snow levels are
currently around 10,000 feet across most of the area. These snow
levels will remain high, generally above 8500-9000 feet during the
duration of this first round of precipitation. These strong
southerly winds will remain elevated through Friday, particularly
across the west desert where winds are gust as high as 50 mph.

There will be a lull in precipitation early Friday through Friday
evening before a trough moves into the area that will bring a cold
front that will allow snow levels to drop significantly. The
passage of this front will occur some time Friday evening with
mostly valley rain and mountain snow. A secondary shortwave will
also move through southern Utah around the same time. This will
enhance snowfall across the southern mountains. H7 temperatures
(~-5C to -7C) along this front appear to be too warm for valley
snowfall initially, but as colder air filters into the area these
snow levels will begin to drop. A trailing wave Saturday evening
will bring enhanced lift along with the best chance for valley
snowfall as H7 temperatures will be sufficiently cold for snow to
valley floors. This trailing wave won't have as much moisture to
work with, but a warm Great Salt Lake and northwest flow aloft
will help to enhance precipitation downwind of the lake. This will
also keep snow going through the mountains of northern Utah
through Sunday morning.

This trough quickly exits on Sunday with a ridge building back
into the area for most of next week. This will keep conditions dry
with gradually warming temperatures.

&&

.AVIATION...KSLC...South winds gusting in excess of 25 KTS at times
will persist through the TAF period. Rain showers will increase in
the vicinity of the terminal after 02Z, with the best chance of rain
at the terminal coming after 07Z. The chance of MVFR or lower
CIGS/VIS with these rain showers is less than 10 percent.

.REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...Gusty south winds will persist
across the area throughout the evening and overnight hours. These
winds will gust in excess of 25 kts at times at KCDC and other
locations which typically see enhanced southerly flow. predominant
rain will develop across southwestern Utah through the evening and
persist through the overnight hours, with MVFR CIGS/VIS likely
within heavier showers at KCDC and KSGU. Further north, scattered
rain showers will persist near the ID border, with rain showers
becoming more widespread after 07Z across northern Utah and
southwest Wyoming. CIGS will fall below 6000 feet during this time,
and MVFR CIGS/VIS will be possible within heaver showers
overnight.

&&

.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...Wind Advisory until 5 PM MST Friday for UTZ101-102-115-122.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 11 AM Friday to 5 AM MST Sunday for
     UTZ110>113.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM MST Thursday for UTZ112-125.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM Friday to 5 PM MST Saturday
     for UTZ125.

WY...None.
&&

PUBLIC...Mahan
AVIATION...Seaman

For more information from NOAA's National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/saltlakecity