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SALT LAKE CITY — Are you ready for snow?
Yes, with the cold front that made its way through the Wasatch Front Wednesday morning, temperatures have dropped to below normal for this time of the year. Some residents might even experience lake effect snow and should prepare for a hard freeze warning that will take effect Wednesday night.
National Weather Service officials stated a cold front passed through Salt Lake City about 6:30 a.m., bringing temperatures down into the 40s. Temperatures across the Wasatch Front are expected to remain in the 40s for the remainder of the day before sliding into the 30s and even below-freezing in some places.
“Even though we’ll get some sunshine (in the late afternoon), it’s going to be windy and it’s going to be cold,” said KSL meteorologist Grant Weyman.
In addition, Weyman said rain and some snow showers are expected to cut across the Wasatch Front beginning late Wednesday morning into the early afternoon.
Then comes the chance of lake effect snow. The National Weather Service projects a possibility of it between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 3 a.m. Thursday. Most areas of the Salt Lake Valley would receive a brushing of snow while Magna and South Jordan could see upwards of 2 inches, and Tooele may see up to 3 inches of snow during that time frame.
Lake effect snow is also possible tonight, though accumulations will be light. Here is our potential accumulation forecast. #utwxpic.twitter.com/pNMLGYe14u
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) October 9, 2019
Weyman added some areas in the Tooele Valley and the south end of the Salt Lake Valley could see 2-4 inches of snow.
“The air is super cold, (there’s) a little bit of humidity coming over the warmer Great Salt Lake (Wednesday night) — it could equate to some lake effect snow. Very, very, winterlike here the next couple of days,” Weyman explained.
Here are the details about the LAKE EFFECT SNOW we could see tonight! pic.twitter.com/ZxkvtmgiOB
— Grant Weyman (@KSLweyman) October 9, 2019
Meanwhile, strong winds are also associated with the cold front. Those throughout northern, central and southeastern Utah can expect gusts up to 50 mph Wednesday. Those in southern Utah can expect gusts reaching up to 55 mph in southern Utah's canyon areas.
The National Weather Service also issued a high wind warning for Price and Castle Country area for Wednesday evening, with gusts upwards of 65 mph.
UPDATE: Strong gusty winds are anticipated with today's cold front. A High Wind Warning has been issued for this evening for Castle County. Here's more information about what you can expect. #utwx#utwindpic.twitter.com/L5qKjsefkE
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) October 9, 2019
Those in the Wasatch Front can expect a high of 40 degrees on Thursday and 49 degrees on Friday, as well as lows in the 20s both of those days, Weyman said. The National Weather Service issued a hard freeze warning that will go into effect at 8 p.m. Wednesday and runs through 10 a.m. Friday. Temperatures are expected to jump back into the mid-60s by Sunday.
The cooler temperatures are expected for southern Utah as well as the cold front moves down the state. St. George is expected to dip from a high of 81 degrees Wednesday to a high of 63 on Thursday and 68 on Friday, according to Weyman. The area can expect lows of 39 and 31 degrees on Thursday and Friday before temperatures warm back up.
