Salt Lake City, UT Weather Forecast & Climate Guide
Salt Lake City has a semi-arid continental climate with four seasons and mountain influences.
Climate type: Semi-arid continental (Köppen BSk)
Salt Lake City Climate Overview
Hot, dry summers. Cold winters with significant snow in mountains. Inversions trap cold air.
Winter inversions create poor air quality. Lake effect snow from Great Salt Lake.
Salt Lake City Weather by Season
spring
Spring is variable with late snowstorms in March and April giving way to warm, sunny weather in May. Mountain snowmelt feeds the Great Salt Lake and surrounding rivers.
summer
Summers are hot and dry with highs in the upper 80s to mid-90s°F but very low humidity. Afternoon thunderstorms pop up over the mountains, occasionally reaching the city.
fall
Fall is spectacular — warm sunny days, cool nights, brilliant aspen foliage in the Wasatch, and the first snow dusting peaks by late October.
winter
Winters are cold with highs in the upper 30s°F and frequent snowstorms in the mountains. Temperature inversions trap cold, polluted air in the Salt Lake Valley for days at a time.
Salt Lake City Average Monthly Temperatures
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 38° | 44° | 53° | 62° | 72° | 83° | 92° | 90° | 80° | 66° | 51° | 39° |
| Low °F | 23° | 27° | 34° | 41° | 50° | 58° | 66° | 65° | 54° | 42° | 32° | 24° |
Best Time to Visit Salt Lake City
Mid-May through early October for warm, dry, sunny weather. For skiing, December through March delivers Utah's legendary "Greatest Snow on Earth."
Severe Weather Risks
- Blizzards
- Temperature inversions
- Flash flooding
- Wildfires
- Windstorms
Weather Facts About Salt Lake City
- >The Wasatch Mountains receive some of the lightest, driest snow in North America — Utah's "Greatest Snow on Earth" slogan isn't marketing.
- >Salt Lake City sits in a bowl that traps cold air in winter, causing severe temperature inversions and poor air quality.
- >The Great Salt Lake creates its own lake-effect snow bands that can dump inches of snow on the city.
Salt Lake City Weather FAQ
When is the best time to visit Salt Lake City?
Mid-May through early October for warm, dry weather and outdoor activities. For world-class skiing, December through March is ideal with consistent powder in the Wasatch resorts.
How much snow does Salt Lake City get?
About 56 inches per year in the city, but the nearby Cottonwood Canyon resorts average 500+ inches. Utah's light, dry powder is famous among skiers worldwide.
What is a temperature inversion?
Cold, dense air settles into the Salt Lake Valley and gets trapped under warmer air above. This causes days or weeks of cold, foggy, polluted conditions in winter. Pollution alerts are common.
Does Salt Lake City get thunderstorms?
Yes — summer afternoons and evenings can bring thunderstorms rolling off the Wasatch Mountains. Flash flooding in desert canyons is a real risk during monsoon season in July and August.