After high temperatures extended the state’s summer into October, Utahns should brace for a brief dose of winter weather as back-to-back cold fronts are expected to bring snow and below-average temperatures this week.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service said they expect Wednesday to be the last warm day of the season, with a high set to hit near 80 – which is 15 degrees above normal for this time of year. A dry and mostly sunny Wednesday is expected, with the afternoon seeing a 20% chance of rain.

While strong southwest winds and abnormally low humidity will create critical fire conditions for western Utah, Wednesday evening’s expected cold front will bring the start of snow in the western Uintas and Wasatch Mountains.

Forecasters also warn of dry microbursts – or downdrafts that may threaten life and property – for western Utah Wednesday.

A second, stronger cold front — dropping average temperatures to 30 degrees — will move in Thursday night into Friday morning. Heavy to moderate showers are expected, with snow for areas above 5,000-to-6,000 feet.

This is the weather service’s first winter storm watch of the season.

“This is going to be a significant pattern change,” said Monica Traphagan, senior meteorologist for the NWS Salt Lake City office, “particularly as we’ve been seeing these very warm temperatures.

In the valley, residents may see some snow flakes, with one to two feet of snow for the upper Cottonwoods. Residents on the benches may see more significant snowfall that may make travel difficult in areas such as Parley’s Canyon, Traphagan said.

“If you can, avoid travel in the mountains,” Traphagan said, “If you have to be there, be prepared for temperatures getting significantly colder.”

The winter storm, Traphagan said, will likely suppress The Yellow Lake Fire, which has grown to 31,193 acres within the Uinta Mountains as of Tuesday morning. Smoke and haze from the fire will likely decrease with the storm.

As of Tuesday afternoon, air quality was considered “good” at the Salt Lake City International Airport. Park City stood with an air quality index of 57, which is considered “moderate.” Kamas was also in the “moderate” range.

Heading into the weekend, according to the forecast, Friday and Saturday temperatures are expected to drop to 15 degrees below average with a low in the mid-30s and a high near 50.

Outside the Wasatch Front’s urban spread and lower Washington County, Utah will see its first hard freeze by Friday, the weather service said. Traphagan suggested Utahns winterize RVs, sprinkler systems and swamp coolers, and protect sensitive vegetation.

Starting Sunday, Utahns should see “normal” temperatures in the 60s for this time of year, with a high pressure system expected throughout next week.

Voters in Washington will soon get their ballots in the mail for the general election, with voting opening on Friday. About half of the statewide races in Washington are open contests this year. That includes the governor’s race where Democratic candidate and Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson is facing Dave Reichert, a former U.S. Representative and sheriff of King County. Reichert is emphasizing his law enforcement credentials on the campaign trail, while trying to shore up support among voters who identify as moderates. During the second gubernatorial debate last month, the two candidates clashed over crime and public safety, the state’s abortion protections and education policies.

Four statewide initiatives are also on the Washington ballot this year. They include I-2117 which if passed, would repeal Washington’s landmark Climate Commitment Act. The law, which went into effect last January, establishes a cap-and-invest program that requires refineries and other polluters to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions with a target of phasing them out by 95% by 2050. The CCA has raised $2 billion so far to fund statewide efforts to mitigate climate change, including making free bus rides for youth, issuing $200 utility credits for low and middle-income households, and expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Jeanie Lindsay is the Olympia correspondent for our partner station, KUOW. She joins us to talk about the Washington governor’s race, the initiatives on the ballot and the issues that are top of mind for the state’s voters.

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Times are tough for families worldwide, thanks to a mission that began in 1993 by Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham.

A man from England contacted him and asked if Graham would be willing to fill shoeboxes with gifts for kids in Europe. Shortly after the mission began, with the help of a church in Charlotte, NC, they filled over 11,000 boxes. That Christmas, Samaritan’s Purse sent 28,000 shoeboxes filled with gifts to kids overseas.

That’s when Operation Christmas Child began, and today, more than 220 million boxes are sent annually to kids worldwide.

This year, National Collection Week for the shoeboxes is November 18-25, so if you’d like to get involved, now is the time to begin packing shoeboxes to ensure that you’ll be able to meet the deadline.

You, your church, organization, family, or friends can easily get involved by having a packing party and then dropping the packed shoeboxes at one of the many drop-off locations around Wyoming.

Remember that some of these kids have never received gifts like this when packing shoeboxes, so make sure to make each box memorable.

There are six categories you should pick items to put into each box for both boys and girls.

1. A WOW item.
2. Personal care items.
3. School supplies.
4. Clothing & Accessories.
5. Games & Activities.
6. Toys.

It’s recommended to avoid items like:

• Food, candy, or gum.
• Toothpaste
• Used or damaged items
• Scary or war-related items.
• Seeds or organic matter.
• Liquids.
• Medication.
• Money.
• Fire-starters.
• Knives, saws, or razor blades.

I have included a complete list of recommended items for boys and girls HERE.  

6 Steps For Wyomingites To Participate In Operation Christmas Child