Storms Continue

Yesterday, mild and windy prefrontal conditions set the stage for the first wave in a series of storms scheduled for this workweek. Winds gusted 60+ mph in some locations across the state, with blowing dust for much of the western half of the state. GOES satellite products (RGB dust) highlighted the areas of blowing dust over the West Desert and dry lakebeds/playas yesterday afternoon (loop below).

GOES-18 WEST Dust-RGB product. Dust shows up as 'light blue'.

Top wind gusts in UT 2/16/2026

Tuesdays Storm

Today (2/17/2026) the storm Utah has been anticipating for the last week has arrived - at least in part. A broad longwave trough is stationed along the PNW and Central Pacific coast, aiming an atmospheric river (AR) and associated moist southwesterly flow across the Sierras into the Great Basin region.

GOES-18 WEST mid-level water vapor 2/17/2026

A shortwave trough embedded within the flow passed over Utah earlier today, bringing cooler temperatures and a period of heavier valley rain/snow and mountain snow showers. The main shortwave energy has largely exited the state to the east, but remnant moisture and energy ahead of the next wave have allowed rain/snow showers to continue across northern Utah through the afternoon. With the aid of orographics and some instability, the southwesterly flow has produced the focus of precipitation over mountain areas and portions of the Wasatch-back (Heber Valley). 

UDOT camera view of US-89 near Dear Creek Reservoir/Heber, UT

The resorts in the upper Cottonwoods have picked up around 6" so far from this storm, with snow continuing to accumulate through the evening. A brief slowdown in snowfall is expected in the mountains going into tonight, but will pick back up again early Wednesday morning. 

Storms Continue

Timeline of Utah weather events 2/17-2/22/2026

The next storm is expected to arrive early Wednesday. A more intense region of precipitation will be oriented along a baroclinic zone (cold front), bringing the opportunity for a period of valley and mountain snow sometime mid to late morning. During this period, snow levels will drop down to the valley floors and snowfall rates could reach >1"/hr. Drivers may have to seriously think about winter driving conditions in the valleys for the first time this season. 

ECMWF 12Z 2/17/2026 four-panel forecast 2/17-2/21/2026: (Top left to bottom right) MSLP/precip and 1000-500 mb thickness; 300 mb gph and winds; ; 500 mb gph, vorticity, and winds; 700 mb gph, RH, temp, and winds

The heaviest and most consistent snow is expected mainly before noon before snow decreases through the afternoon hours and becomes more showery. Mid-level winds will shift more W-NW behind the front/band of heavier snow, which should allow for some orographic snow showers to continue at times in the Wasatch through Wednesday evening. The colder push of air should also help lower snow densities and maximize additional snow accumulations. Precipitation largely shuts down Wednesday night, with a brief dry and quiet period going through Thursday afternoon. 

ECMWF 12Z 2/17/2026 1-hr Snowfall (in) (10:1 ratio). Heavy band of snow along front morning of 2/18/2026

By Friday (2/20/2026), the longwave trough digs south over the Great Basin region and in a last breath brings another shot of cold air and a storm that will track across southern/central Utah. The northern Utah mountains will be grazed by this system and will likely only squeeze out some very light additional snow accumulations. Coldest temperatures of the the week/weekend expected Friday and Saturday morning. Conditions dry out and temperatures moderate some going through the weekend as a transient ridge builds over the state. 

The upper Cottonwoods should expect snow totals Wednesday-Friday somewhere in the 18-36" range given another 1-2" of liquid and snow ratios 12:1 to 20:1. *Accumulations will be variable.