Weather in Salt Lake City

Planning a trip to Salt Lake City? Here you will find the most up-to-date weather information, including forecasts and useful charts, to ensure your journey is comfortable.

Salt Lake City features a climate with four distinct seasons, which can be described as semi-arid continental. This means you can expect significant temperature fluctuations throughout the year: from frosty winters to hot summers. The city receives a relatively small amount of precipitation, making its climate quite dry.

Summer in Salt Lake City is typically hot and sunny, especially in July and August, when average maximum temperatures can exceed 30°C, and rainfall is minimal. Winters, conversely, are cold, with average temperatures below freezing and regular snowfall, particularly from December to March. Spring and autumn are transitional seasons with more moderate temperatures, but also with some precipitation, which can fall as either rain or snow in early spring or late autumn.

A specific feature of the Salt Lake City climate is the low amount of precipitation in general, especially during the summer months when rain becomes a rarity. In winter, despite the small total amount of precipitation, the number of days with it (likely in the form of snow) is noticeably higher, which contributes to creating good conditions for winter sports in the surrounding mountains.

Significant temperature fluctuations are observed in Salt Lake City throughout the year, which is characteristic of its climate. The hottest months are undoubtedly July and August. In July, the average temperature is about 25.0°C, with daily highs regularly reaching 32.1°C, and nightly lows dropping to 17.9°C. August is slightly cooler, with an average temperature of 23.2°C, maximum values around 30.0°C, and minimums of 16.5°C. The coldest months are January and December. In January, the average temperature holds at -2.2°C (with lows down to -6.2°C and highs up to 1.7°C), and in December it is -2.1°C (minimum -6.4°C, maximum 2.2°C). February also remains cold with an average temperature of -1.5°C.

The summer months in Salt Lake City are characterized by hot and dry weather. From June to August, daytime temperatures often exceed 25°C, and in July they can rise above 30°C. At the same time, there is a substantial difference between day and night temperatures: for example, in July it can be more than 14°C (from 17.9°C at night to 32.1°C during the day). This means that even after a sweltering day, evenings and nights can be pleasantly cool. Precipitation during the summer period is minimal, especially in July, when it practically does not occur.

Winter in Salt Lake City is frosty and snowy. From December to February, average air temperatures remain below freezing. Night temperatures regularly drop to -6°C and below, creating conditions for frost. Daytime temperatures in the coldest months rarely rise significantly above the freezing point, hovering around 1-3°C. Temperature variations between day and night in winter are also noticeable, although not as sharp as in summer, averaging 8-9°C. The transitional seasons, spring and autumn, offer more moderate temperatures: for instance, in April the average temperature is 7.8°C, and in October it is 10.0°C, with comfortable daily highs and cool nights.

Salt Lake City generally experiences a low level of precipitation throughout the year, which corresponds to its semi-arid climate. Nevertheless, one can identify periods with more frequent, though not abundant, precipitation, and a distinct dry season occurring during the summer months.

The greatest amount of precipitation, although it is small and amounts to 2 mm per month, falls in the period from November to May. In terms of frequency of precipitation, March leads with an average of 13 wet days. It is followed by January (12 days), as well as February and December (11 days each). Given that average temperatures in the winter months (December, January, February) drop below freezing, precipitation at this time of year mainly falls as snow. In transitional months, such as March and November, when the average air temperature is about +2.7°C, the nature of precipitation can be mixed – both rain and snowfall are possible.

The summer period, especially from June to September, is characterized as a pronounced dry season. July is absolutely the driest month: on average, no precipitation is recorded here at all (0 mm) and there are only about 2 days with any humidity. June and September are also very arid, bringing only 1 mm of precipitation each and having only 4 wet days each. In August, 1 mm of precipitation falls over 5 wet days. Even in October, the amount of precipitation remains at the level of 1 mm, although the number of wet days increases slightly to 6, signalling a gradual transition to a wetter season.

When planning a trip to Salt Lake City, it is important to consider significant seasonal weather fluctuations. In winter (from December to February), when average temperatures drop below freezing and night frosts reach -6°C, you will need warm clothes: an insulated jacket or coat, a hat, gloves, a scarf, and waterproof warm shoes, especially if you plan time outdoors or trips to the mountains. Thermal underwear will also be useful. In spring (especially in March) and late autumn (November), the weather can be cool and damp, so it is worth taking layered clothing, including sweaters, a fleece jacket, and a mid-season jacket, as well as waterproof shoes. The principle of layering your clothes is your best friend in Salt Lake City at any time of the year, as even in warm seasons, evenings can be cool.

In summer (from June to August), hot and dry weather sets in Salt Lake City, especially in July, when daytime temperatures can exceed 30°C. At this time, light and breathable clothing made of natural fabrics will come in handy: t-shirts, shorts, sundresses. Given the intense solar radiation and low amount of precipitation, be sure to bring sunscreen with a high SPF, sunglasses, and a hat. Despite the daytime heat, evenings can be noticeably cooler, so a light jacket or sweater will be useful for evening walks. In transitional seasons, such as April-May and September-October, the weather is more moderate, but precipitation is still possible, so a compact umbrella or a light raincoat may prove useful.

Regardless of the season, comfortable walking shoes are an absolute necessity, as there are many interesting places to explore in the city and its surroundings. Due to the general dryness of the climate, especially in the summer and winter months, do not forget to bring moisturizer and lip balm. Although the amount of precipitation is generally small, there are more wet days in the period from November to May, so if your trip falls during this time, be prepared for possible rain or snow (in winter).