Utah’s latest spring storm slows snowmelt, adds to snowpack
May 6, 2024, 4:45 PM
A man, who asked not to be named, walks with his umbrella under snow-covered trees at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — Snow in May is not unusual for Utah, but the most recent spring storm in Utah dropped the most snow that weather officials have seen in more than five years.
In Salt Lake County, and the Olympus Cove in particular, residents saw 8 inches of snow.
KSL Meteorologist Matt Johnson said that about half that amount fell on the Bountiful bench.
24 HOUR RAIN & SNOW: What a storm! Davis County has been getting slammed with this one. Many locations well over the 1-2″ mark, AND they’ve seen quite a bit of snow. #utwx 🌧️❄️ pic.twitter.com/khFIv1UAsT
— Matthew Johnson (@KSL_Matt) May 6, 2024
Late spring storm slows Utah snowmelt
Your snow-loving friends were probably trying to be positive about the rain and snow, reminding their friends that Utah is a high desert and that any precipitation is good for both the lawn and tourism.
Johnson said the late-season storm won’t impact the snowpack, but it will add water to our totals.
“It’ll slow the snowmelt; it’ll add a little to the snowpack,” he said. “But the sun’s too strong, days are too long for this to have a substantial impact.
Related : Late winter storm adds to already flourishing Utah snowpack
Johnson said there might be a flooding concern around this time of year if warm rain was falling at higher elevations. But that’s not what happened over the weekend.
“This was actually the ideal scenario, because we’ve added snow to the mountain tops and we’ve cooled things off. So it’s going to slow down that snowmelt process and kind of extend it,” Johnson said.
The National Weather Service predicts a few more cold mornings before a warmup.
⬇ Low Temperatures for the next several mornings will be near the freezing mark for many locations, especially Wednesday morning. Take a look at the forecast lows for where you live below and take any necessary precautions for outdoor gardens and agriculture. #UTwx #WYwx pic.twitter.com/AM6ayeD3W7
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) May 5, 2024
