Winter Storm Alert: Utah ski resort anticipates 19 inches of snowfall by Saturday

Expected snow totals through Oct. 19, 2024. Photo: NOAA

The season’s first significant winter weather event is expected later this week. NOAA has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the Wasatch Mountains south of I-80 and the Western Uinta Mountains, including areas around Moon Lake, Alta, Brighton, and Mirror Lake Highway. The storm is forecasted to arrive Thursday morning and continue through Friday evening.

Park City is expected to receive 1 to 2 inches of wet snow, with lows in the high 20s. Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain are predicted to receive 6 to 7 inches. Alta Ski area is expected to get 19 inches out of this storm, and Snowbird could see 17 inches.

The heaviest snowfall is expected late Thursday through early Friday morning. Backcountry recreationists should pay particular attention and be ready for rapidly dropping temperatures and heavy, wet snowfall.

Utah Ski Resorts Projected Opening Days

• Brian Head Resort: November 8, 2024*
• Park City: November 22, 2024*
• Alta Ski Area: November 22, 2024* (could be the 23rd)
• Snowbasin: November 26, 2024*
• Snowbird: November 26, 2024
• Brighton Resort: November 29, 2024
• Solitude: November 15, 2024
• Sundance: December 02, 2024*
• Deer Valley Resort: December 7, 2024*
• Powder Mountain: December 11, 2024
• Beaver Mountain: December 13, 2024
• Nordic Valley Resort: December 13, 2024
• Eagle Point: December 20, 2024

Fire crews battling the Yellow Lake Fire, which has now burned 30,000 acres, are closely monitoring the storm, hoping for as much moisture as possible to aid in fire suppression efforts. Parts of Mirror Lake Highway will see 8 inches of snow, and Kings Peak could see up to 21 inches of snow.

Utah Ski Resort Expected Snow Totals through Oct 19.