242
FXUS65 KSLC 192236
AFDSLC
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
336 PM MST THU FEB 19 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- SNOW ABOVE 3,000 FEET WILL SPREAD ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
UTAH THIS EVENING, CONTINUING INTO FRIDAY, WITH THE MAJORITY OF
SNOW ACCUMULATION OVER SOUTHERN UTAH.
- HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FRIDAY, WITH DRY AND WARMER
CONDITIONS INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.
DISCUSSION
A MOISTURE RICH LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS CENTERED OVER
SOUTHERN NEVADA THIS AFTERNOON, WITH MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY ON
THE FRONT END OF THE SYSTEM BRINGING PRECIPITATION, PRIMARILY
SNOW, INTO SOUTHWEST UTAH. TEMPERATURES REMAIN ON THE COLD SIDE
BEHIND THE PREVIOUS SYSTEM, 10F OR MORE BELOW SEASONAL NORMALS,
WITH THIS SYSTEM EXPECTED TO BRING A REINFORCING SHOT OF COLD AIR.
THE SYSTEM WILL TRACK EASTWARD ACROSS SOUTHERN UTAH THIS EVENING
THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING, ALLOWING SNOW TO SPREAD ACROSS THE
REMAINDER OF THE SOUTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE FORECAST AREA.
ACCUMULATIONS WILL STEADILY INCREASE AS ONE GETS CLOSER TO THE
ARIZONA BORDER, WITH SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL UTAH SEEING THE
HIGHEST TOTALS. WITH SOME TOTALS OF A FOOT OR MORE EXPECTED IN THE
MOUNTAINS IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS, THIS WILL RESULT IN SOME
SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. GOING SUITE OF WINTER STORM
WARNINGS AND WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES COVER THE THREAT WELL AND
HAVE MADE NO CHANGES WITH THE AFTERNOON PACKAGE.
ONE ASPECT OF THIS SYSTEM THAT HAS GREATER UNCERTAINTY THAN USUAL
IS WITH REGARD TO THE NORTHERN EXTENT OF THE PRECIPITATION AND
POTENTIAL IMPACTS ALONG THE WASATCH FRONT. GUIDANCE TODAY HAS
BEEN, IF ANYTHING, TRENDING SOUTHWARD WITH THE TRACK, KEEPING
ANYTHING MORE THAN TOKEN ACCUMULATIONS AWAY FROM THE SALT LAKE AND
UTAH VALLEYS. STILL, GIVEN THE ALREADY COLD TEMPERATURES, ANY SNOW
THAT FALLS WILL STICK QUICKLY TO ROADS. GIVEN THAT THE MOST LIKELY
TIME FOR NORTHERN UTAH SNOW IS VERY NEAR THE TIME OF THE FRIDAY
MORNING COMMUTE, TRAVELERS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION FRIDAY MORNING.
SHOWERS WILL LINGER, PRIMARILY OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN, INTO THE
AFTERNOON, BUT SHOULD SHUT OFF QUICKLY FRIDAY EVENING AS HIGH
PRESSURE MOVES IN. THE BROAD RIDGE WILL RESULT IN A STEADY WARMING
TREND BY EARLY NEXT WEEK, WITH MAXES MONDAY CURRENTLY EXPECTED TO
BE AROUND 10F ABOVE SEASONAL NORMALS. A GRAZING STORM SYSTEM LATE
MONDAY INTO TUESDAY WILL CURB THE WARMING TREND, WITH A CHANCE THE
ZONAL FLOW WILL TAP INTO DEEPER MOISTURE, BRINGING THE POTENTIAL
FOR VALLEY RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW TO NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA
INTO AT LEAST WEDNESDAY, A TYPE OF PATTERN WE SAW A LOT OF AT THE
BEGINNING OF WINTER.
AVIATION...KSLC
ENHANCED SOUTHERLY WINDS CONTINUE THROUGH THIS
EVENING BEFORE TAPERING AND BECOMING MORE SOUTHEASTERLY AFTER 03Z.
INCREASING MID-LEVEL MOISTURE WILL BRING GRADUAL CIG REDUCTIONS THIS
EVENING INTO FRIDAY MORNING, RESULTING IN TERRAIN OBSCURATION. A
SYSTEM SKIRTING TO THE SOUTH BRINGS A 30% CHANCE FOR SNOW SHOWERS
AND A RESULTANT BRIEF PERIOD OF IFR/MVFR CONDITIONS BETWEEN 10-14Z
FRIDAY MORNING. WINDS SWITCH NORTHWESTERLY AFTER A WEAK FRONTAL
PASSAGE BEYOND 14Z, BECOMING GUSTY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.
REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING.
WIDESPREAD SNOW SHOWERS
(GENERALLY >3000FT) WILL CONTINUE TO OVERSPREAD THE SOUTHERN PORTION
OF THE AIRSPACE THIS AFTERNOON, EVENTUALLY SPREADING AS FAR NORTH AS
KPVU THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. THIS WILL BRING MVFR/IFR
CONDITIONS FOR MOST CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN UTAH TERMINALS THROUGH
EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. NORTH OF KPVU, CHANCES FOR SHOWERS DROP
SIGNIFICANTLY. SOUTH TO SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS PREVAIL FOR MOST
REGIONAL TERMINALS THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING, TRANSITIONING
NORTHWESTERLY BEHIND A WEAK COLD FRONT.
SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
UT...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM MST FRIDAY FOR UTZ113.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM MST FRIDAY FOR UTZ116-118-119.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MST FRIDAY FOR UTZ117.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 9 AM MST FRIDAY FOR UTZ120-121-129-
130.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 9 AM MST FRIDAY FOR UTZ122-126-127.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 AM MST FRIDAY FOR UTZ124-125-128.
WY...NONE.
PUBLIC...TRAPHAGAN
AVIATION...WHITLAM
FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA'S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SALTLAKECITY
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page