Snow is piling up in Utah's ski resorts as the cold front brings record heat

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – Utahns who woke up Thursday morning were greeted with a drastic change in the weather than they've been used to in recent weeks.

Autumn and the month of October began with several days of unusually high heat, with temperatures around 20 degrees above average. But on October 17th The daily highs cooled down as a cold front moved into the Beehive State.

But this cold front brings more than just cooler weather. Rain filled the morning commute and the National Weather Service warned that the cold front could bring heavy snowfall to the mountains of Utah.

A look at the ski resorts in Utah shows that the snow is already starting to pile up early Thursday morning. The Snowbird snow pole has already accumulated a few inches of snow, while the Alta Ski Area snow pole is not far behind.

Other live cameras at Snowbird and Alta Ski Area show snow completely covering the ground at Hidden Peak and Sugarloaf Peak, respectively. Meanwhile, the Great Western camera at Brighton ski resort is covered in snow from 10am on Thursday, obscuring views of the frozen trees seen earlier in the day.

While the snow is a welcome sight for many Utahns, others would rather hold on to the summer months for as long as possible. Or maybe they're okay with the snow as long as it “stays up in the mountains.”

Well, it's good news that the mid-October snow isn't expected to reach the valley floor. Although there is a chance of snow in the valley, the National Weather Service said the snow is expected to remain above 5,000 feet – about 700 feet above elevation from Salt Lake City.

ABC4's 4Warn Weather Team said the Cottonwood Canyons could see up to two feet of snow through Friday night, while the Wasatch Mountains south of I-80 could see between 10 and 18 inches of fresh powder.

However, several winter warnings and advisories are in effect for Utah from Logan to St. George.

A Winter storm warning for the central and southern mountains including Joes Valley, Cove Fort, Fish Lake, Alton and Brian Head until midday Saturday. NWS warns that up to 22 inches of heavy snowfall could hit the area and impact driving conditions.

The drastic drop in temperatures could also result in low temperatures below freezing overnight, which is a cause for concern a freeze watch for Utah County and a frost warning for central and southern Utah. NWS said Utah residents should expect widespread freezing temperatures, with lows reaching as low as 22 degrees in some areas. These conditions could destroy crops and other sensitive plants or damage unprotected outdoor plumbing in the area.

Stay informed about October's winter storm both online and on air with ABC4's 4Warn Weather Team.

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