Freezing cold temps linger, but much warmer this weekend

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Happy Friday, Utah! Things will be a bit calmer in the north today, although lake effect snow could bring a few light morning showers to parts of the Salt Lake Valley and over the Oquirrh Mountains.

We may see snow showers hold on to the Northern Mountains as well, but the vast majority of the snow is behind us. Clouds will clear as we approach the afternoon with partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies on deck for most of the day. 

While the snow is tapering off, the cold airmass is still around. Daytime highs will run 10-15 degrees below seasonal norms, only topping out in the mid to upper 40s for most of the state, and upper 50s to mid 60s for the warmer spots.

Breezy conditions are expected in southern and eastern Utah, but they’ll calm down throughout the day. Lower Washington County may wake up to gusty northerly winds, especially near the mouths of north-south oriented canyons where gusts are climbing to 50 mph. As a result, a Wind Advisory is in effect for this area until 9 am. 

It’ll be another cold overnight with temperatures dropping below freezing, so don’t turn on your sprinklers or bring you plants back outside just yet. Freeze Warnings are in effect for most Utah valleys from the Wasatch Front to Cedar City and through much of Eastern Utah. 

Temperatures will fall to the teens and 20s, posing a threat to sensitive vegetation and outdoor plumbing. The Freeze Warning is in effect from 8 pm Thursday until 12 pm Friday for most of the West Desert, the Wasatch Front, Castle Country, the Western Uinta Basin, Sanpete and Sevier Valleys, and Canyonlands.

The Freeze Warning goes back into effect at the same time Friday night into Saturday morning.

Saturday will kick off with freezing temperatures, but the warming trend begins. By Saturday afternoon temperatures will be closer to normal, reaching the upper 50s to low 60s for most valleys, and mid 60s to low 70s for the typical hot spots.

By Sunday temperatures will climb another 10-15 degrees, topping out in the low 70s for most, and 80s for St. George. The warm dry weather sticks around to kick off the workweek and temperatures continue climbing through Tuesday when the Wasatch Front could be flirting with 80s. We could see a change come midweek.

We’ll keep you posted on the latest developments in our 4Warn Weather forecast both on-air and online, we are Good4Utah!

• Lake effect possible for some
• Clearing out
• Still cold
• Freeze alerts in effect
• Hard late season freezes in valleys
• Warms up and clear for the weekend
• 10-15 degrees above average by Sunday/Monday