Bald Mountain Pass along Mirror Lake Highway. Photo: NWS & UDOT

PARK CITY, Utah — It may be the first official day of fall, but winter has already arrived in Utah’s high country. The season’s first snowfall arrived Monday afternoon, leaving a light dusting on Bald Mountain Pass along Mirror Lake Highway and giving excited skiers a glimpse of what’s ahead. Brighton Resort also joined in the excitement, posting a video of flakes drifting past their chairlifts.

The quick storm brought just a light coating, but for snow-hungry locals it served as a reminder that ski season is just around the corner. Resorts typically start spinning lifts in mid-to-late November, depending on conditions.

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As for the bigger picture, forecasters say the outlook for Utah’s 2025–26 winter remains uncertain. Long-range climate models are leaning toward below-average snowfall and warmer-than-normal temperatures across much of the state.

Still, the Wasatch Range has a reputation for overdelivering, with its high elevation and unique geography often producing some of the deepest snow totals in the Rockies. Even in so-called “dry years,” Utah powder can stack up well above what other ski regions see in a banner season.