Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Spring Who?

TL;DR: A low-pressure trough will pass through the region today bringing snowfall to Wasatch resorts. This trough will evolve through this week to become a retrograding cutoff low in the SW states. A bulky high-pressure ridge will move over northern Utah this weekend looking to stay in place for the beginning of next week.


Nowcast: Snowfall has already begun in the Wasatch! It is currently 28 F at the base of Alta and 20 F at the top of Collins. Wind is light from the WNW. 



(Alta: https://www.alta.com/weather)

Short-Term: Wasatch resorts will begin seeing snowfall beginning this morning. The heaviest snow accumulation will occur through Tuesday night (~8 pm). Instability will persist throughout the region after this; however, snowfall rates will calm down. Snowfall totals at ski resorts range from 8-15” through Wednesday. Cold air advection will occur beginning Tuesday afternoon and temperatures will reach a minimum for this system by Wednesday night.


(Univ Utah: https://weather.utah.edu/. Time Height plot showing moisture headed our way. Snowline (Blue  Line) also drops to the valley floor with this system.) 


Long-Term: A bulky high-pressure ridge will push into northern Utah this weekend bringing fair weather. This pattern looks to persist well into next week. Expect temperatures to steadily rise throughout this period and a consistent diurnal cycle. 


(Univ Utah: https://weather.utah.edu/. Shows the “bulky” high-pressure ridge moving into the region this weekend.)





Backcountry comments: With fair weather on its way next week don’t forget to check UAC before heading into the backcountry. 






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