Utah temperatures warming up, strong snowpack set to start melting
Apr 11, 2024, 11:37 AM
Skiers and snowboarders make their way down the mountain at Snowbird in Alta on Monday, March 4, 2024. The snowpack depth is currently at 107 inches. (Marielle Scott/Deseret News)
(Marielle Scott/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Temperatures along the Wasatch Front are going to get much warmer over the next few days, allowing for the 2024 Utah snowpack accumulated to start melting off.
KSL meteorologists are forecasting a high of 72 degrees in Salt Lake City on Thursday, 78 degrees on Friday and 76 degrees on Saturday.
This will melt off some of the state’s strong snowpack, which, as of Thursday morning, sits at 39% above 30-year averages, and 16% above all average snowpacks ever recorded in Utah.
KSL Meteorologist Kevin Eubank said he predicts every reservoir in the Beehive State, except Flaming Gorge and Lake Powell, to fill this spring, thanks to this year’s snow water and last year’s record snowpack.
The Great Salt Lake is also not expected to fill — but it is in store for another much-needed boost
“It’s really nice to have the water we have, considering how rough it was just a couple years ago,” Eubank said.
Based on current state data, this year’s snow water equivalent — or the amount of water in the statewide snowpack — peaked at 18.8 inches. The state’s all-time average is 16 inches. The 30-year average is 14.3 inches.
The state’s reservoirs are already more than 80% full on average ahead of Spring runoff. This will ideally allow more water to run into Lake Powell and the Great Salt Lake.
