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Salt Lake City Snowfall Hits Massive Seasonal Deficit

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A close-up of cracked, dry earth in Utah with a single withered plant under a bright, cloudless sky, symbolizing a severe lack of seasonal snowfall in Salt Lake City much to the concern of local climatology observers.
Photo via AI illustration
Salt Lake City recorded a massive deficit in snowfall this season, with only 3.7 inches accumulated since October 1, compared to a normal of 51.9 inches. The National Weather Service confirmed that the current accumulation is 48.2 inches below the climatological norm.

Key takeaways

  • Salt Lake City's snowfall since October 1 reached only 3.7 inches, falling 48.2 inches below the normal of 51.9 inches.
  • Total precipitation since January 1 was 5.13 inches, a 4.61-inch deficit from the seasonal average.
  • The city recorded 766 cooling degree days since the start of the year, exceeding the normal 643.
  • The maximum temperature on July 22 was 87 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 8 degrees cooler than the normal high.

Salt Lake City has recorded a massive deficit in snowfall this season, totaling just 3.7 inches since October 1, according to a July 23 climate report from the National Weather Service. This figure represents a 48.2-inch departure from the climatological normal of 5 heavy inches for the same period.

Significant Precipitation Deficits

The National Weather Service Salt Lake City issued a daily climate summary on July 23, 2026, detailing the significant lack of precipitation and snow. The report confirmed that the snowfall accumulation since October 1 is far below the 51.9-inch average recorded during the 1991 to 2020 normal period.

In addition to the low snowfall totals, the city has seen a deficit in overall precipitation this year. Since January 1, Salt Lake City has recorded 5.13 inches of precipitation, which is 4.61 inches less than the seasonal normal of 9.74 inches.

Summer Temperature Trends

The lack of winter snow arrived alongside a warm July. On July 22, 2026, the maximum temperature reached 87 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 8 degrees below the normal high of 95 degrees. However, the minimum temperature of 75 degrees was 5 degrees higher than the typical low of 70 degrees.

The National Weather Service also noted an increase in cooling degree days for the year. Since January 1, Salt Lake City has recorded 766 cooling degree days, a significant increase over the normal value of 643.

Earlier Summer Observations

Earlier this summer, the National Weather Service highlighted unusual conditions in the region. On June 29, 2026, the agency shared observations from Bald Mountain Pass to illustrate the seasonal weather patterns occurring across Utah.

Recent Weather Conditions

The climate data for July 22, 2026, also indicated that the city experienced light rain, haze, and thunderstorms during the day. The average humidity for the period was recorded at 51 percent.

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Utah News

Sources used (5)

  • www.ksl.comWebSalt Lake City won
  • www.ksl.comWebUtah shattered its winter temperature records. Why was it so warm?
  • www.ksl.comWebUtah breaks record for lowest April snowpack in nearly a century by
  • x.comWebNWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) on X
  • forecast.weather.govOfficialNational Weather Service

How this story was made

Corroborated by 3 independent sources

Utah News confirmed this story across multiple independent newsrooms before publishing.

ksl.comx.comcpc.ncep.noaa.govforecast.weather.govwater.utah.govweather.gov

8 sources gathered

Coverage collected from the outlets listed above. · August 22, 2026

Written by AI

Utah News AI (on-device model) · drawing on 3 outlets · July 23, 2026

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Passed editorial quality review (100/100)

Published

32 days ago · July 23, 2026

This story was written by AI from the public sources listed above and passed automated quality review before publishing.

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