260
FXUS65 KSLC 121014
AFDSLC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
414 AM MDT Wed Mar 12 2025

.SYNOPSIS...A broad storm system will bring a strong cold front
through the area Thursday afternoon and evening, bringing
significant snow to the mountains of Utah, with strong and gusty
winds anticipated over western Utah ahead of the front. The active
pattern will continue into the weekend and early next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM (Through 00Z Saturday)...A trough is making its way
across the Desert Southwest this morning, but most of the impacts
are staying away from Utah and southwest Wyoming. As the system
exits to the east today, a broad and stronger system will make its
way onshore along the Pacific coast, amplifying the flow over the
area, particularly over western Utah, where a Wind Advisory will
be in effect this afternoon into tomorrow. Under this breezy and
mild flow, northern Utah will see another day of maxes 5-7F above
seasonal normals, while increasing cloud cover will bring southern
Utah highs down just a bit.

The storm system is on track to move into the Great Basin Thursday
morning before the front edge of the system and the associated
cold front move into western Utah during the early afternoon. Some
precipitation will develop ahead of the front, but the best
precipitation will come with the front itself, primarily during
the late afternoon into the evening. This front will quickly bring
in a much colder airmass, dropping snow levels to most valley
floors during the evening. A rapid changeover to snow could bring
some impacts to the Thursday afternoon commute. Snow will be most
significant over the mountains of Utah, however, with most
locations expected to see at least 10 to 20 inches of snow. The
storm, fast moving in nature, will exit the area Friday morning,
with a few snow showers lingering over the mountains of northern
Utah into Friday afternoon. Impacts could linger into the Friday
morning commute.

.LONG TERM (After 00Z Saturday)...Northwesterly flow persists as ridging
builds over the eastern Pacific and a large longwave trough deepens
over the southern plains. Within this flow, an embedded shortwave
trough appears evident accompanied by another plume of moisture.
Additionally, with the trough over the plains deepening,
northwesterly flow will increase as the pressure gradient tightens
enhancing ascent over the area. This should be enough to spark some
more snow across the state, though not nearly as substantial as the
departing system. However, valley snow appears likely with this
system as snow levels will remain quite low following the departure
of the previous system generally hovering around 3500-4000ft. Across
the mountains, totals generally range from 3-8" with totals reaching
up to a foot across mountains in northern Utah. Valleys can
generally expect around 1-3" with some locally higher totals across
the benches.

Late Saturday into Sunday morning, mid-level ridging builds back in
providing enough subsidence to end snowfall across the area.
Additionally, surface winds will clock to southerly and usher in a
warm air advection regime bringing pleasantly warm conditions to the
forecast area once again on Sunday and Monday. This will,
unfortunately, be short lived as another trough is expected to move
into the area late Monday serving to decrease temperatures around 10-
20 degrees below normal for Tuesday. This system will once again
bring statewide snow to the area, such as the last system, though
moisture quality appears suspect at this time. Regardless, the
active pattern is expected to continue across the forecast area.

Another round of snow is possible Saturday as a trailing shortwave
arrives with ample moisture aloft. It remains difficult to iron out
totals at this time, though snow levels remaining generally less
than 4000ft would be favorable for another round of valley snowfall.
Following this, guidance is also hinting at yet another trough
moving toward the area early next week.

&&

.AVIATION...KSLC... Mid-high level clouds continue to build in with
generally southerly flow persisting through the period. Gusts around
20kts have already been observed and are expected to increase to
around 30kts later today, likely persisting through the period. Wind
shear is possible this evening if we are to decouple, though it
appears more likely that winds will continue mixing to the surface
with strong gusts persisting.

.REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING... Southerly flow is expected to
persist across all sites through the period, increasing in magnitude
throughout the day with gusts increasing as well. Additionally, mid-
high level cloud cover will continue to increase throughout the day
ahead of an approaching system.

&&

.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...Wind Advisory from noon today to 6 PM MDT Thursday for UTZ101-
     102-115-122.

     Winter Storm Watch from Thursday morning through late Thursday
     night for UTZ110>113-117-125.

WY...None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Traphagan
LONG TERM/AVIATION...Worster

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