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- A cold front will bring rain and snow to Utah on Election Day.
- The incoming storm won't bring as much precipitation as a weekend storm but will help chip away at dry conditions.
- Temperatures will also drop, with highs in the 30s and 40s across northern Utah and the Wasatch Front through Friday.
SALT LAKE CITY — A storm that passed through Utah over the weekend produced decent precipitation totals in parts of the state, as well as some of the first valley snow showers of the season.
And there's more on the way, but that could also mean a soggy commute for Utahns seeking to cast their ballots on Election Day.
Another storm arrives
A smaller cold front — this time arriving from the north — is forecast to swoop into Utah on Tuesday, providing more rain and snow showers, said KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson. However, he adds that its organization, north-south progression and "quick-moving nature" will likely limit any precipitation productivity.
Some showers could impact northern Utah Monday night and early Tuesday ahead of the system, but the brunt of precipitation is expected to arrive with the cold front.
The cold front is expected to reach Utah by about 8 a.m., hitting the Wasatch Front by the late morning or early afternoon as it moves south. A mix of rain and snow showers is forecast for most of Utah's northern half by late Tuesday afternoon, but Johnson said it will likely "lose energy" as it continues into southern Utah later in the day.
Most parts of the Wasatch Front could receive 0.05-0.20 inches of precipitation by the end of the day, while mountaintops could end up with a few more inches of snow. Parts of southern Utah could receive some measurable precipitation, but not much is forecast if the system does indeed fall apart as it crosses the state.
Most of the storm's moisture will fall east of Utah, in Colorado.
The bigger Utah impact, Johnson said, is that it will keep temperatures low for the rest of the workweek.
High temperatures along the Wasatch Front and northern Utah are forecast to top out in the upper 30s and low 40s on Tuesday. Those planning to vote in person may want to bring a jacket along with their umbrella.
Highs may only top out in the mid-to-upper 40s through Friday, while overnight lows will plummet into the teens and 20s.
High temperatures near St. George will drop from the low 60s on Tuesday to the low 50s on Wednesday as the cold front eventually sweeps through. Highs are forecast to remain in the 50s through the end of the workweek.
Improving numbers
While not as much, the incoming precipitation could still build on totals from a system that swept through most of the state on Saturday and Sunday.
The storm dumped as much as 7 inches of snow by Alta and produced more valley snow than any of the previous storms over the past few weeks. Multiple communities within the Cache Valley received 2-4 inches of snow, while parts of Bluffdale, Sandy and Bountiful along the Wasatch Front ended up with an inch of snow.
The National Weather Service reported a trace of snow at Salt Lake City International Airport for the first time all season.
Johnson said the storm didn't produce as much as expected because it began to fall apart as the it approached southern Utah, but it still delivered over a quarter of an inch of precipitation across multiple Wasatch Front communities, including as much as 0.52 inches in Lehi. Despite the storm's collapse, St. George — home to some of the driest conditions in the state right now — also received 0.10 inches.
It wasn't the largest storm of the year, by any means, but it continued to improve soil moisture levels in the state. About 96% of the state is listed as at least "abnormally dry," including almost 20% that is experiencing at least moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Johnson said the next storm is expected to arrive by early next week. Full seven-day forecasts for areas across Utah can be found online, at the KSL Weather Center.
