Best time to visit Utah

January weather in Utah is full of extremes. Overall, it’s the coldest month of the year with the lowest temperatures observed in the north-central part of the state. Famous ski resorts of Salt Lake City and Park City area witness temperatures just above freezing during the day, and below freezing during the night. You will need a warm insulated jacket, gloves, and a hat to confront Utah’s winter weather. Snow is the most abundant at this time. The snowiest spot is Brighton that gets 12 snowy days in January and over 1.5m (65 inches) of snow cover. Slightly warmer temperature awaits visitors in the southern and western parts of Utah. If you plan to visit Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon, Escalante, Canyonlands, The Needles, Moab, Glen Canyon or Zion, be prepared for rather chilly days with temperature just above freezing during the day and below freezing during the night. The warmest spot to visit is Zion National Park where during the day it can be about 12 °C or 54°F. Snowfalls are frequent at Blowhard Mountain and Bryce Canyon.

In February the weather stays rather cold in most of Utah. The Salt Lake City skiing area, Brighton and Silver Lake get just above freezing temperature during most days, while at night the air cools down to -12 °C or 10 °F. Snowfall is almost as frequent as in January. Brighton area gets about 12 snow days in February, while Salt Lake City has six. So it’s a great time to be on top of of Solitude, Brighton, Alta or Snowbird and enjoy its incredible snowy terrain. Southwest is still cold, rather wet, and not too pleasant in February. It’s cold almost everywhere. The temperature seems bearable only at Zion National Park and St George, reaching 15 °C (59°F). Air is a little colder at Moab, Glen Canyon, and the Arches.

The air starts warming up in north-central Utah sometimes reaching 12 °C (56 °F) in Salt Lake City, Provo, and Pleasant Grove during the day. At night the temperature still falls below freezing. It still snows heavily at Brighton and Silver Lake, but much less in Salt Lake City. March is an excellent time for skiers and snowboarders due to more sunshine and increasing daylight hours. Southwest Utah sees plenty of rain during March. With seven or eight days of rain in March, the arid areas like Moab, Canyonlands, Escalante, and Zion National Park get precipitation that they so desperately need. And it still snows at Blowhard Mountain and Bryce Canyon. Meanwhile, Zion National Park and St George are the warmest spots in March with temperatures reaching a comfortable range.

April marks the true arrival of real spring to Utah. The frost is gone, the snow is melting, and cold weather is not coming back until next fall. Salt Lake City area boasts pleasant temperatures around 15-16 °C (in the 60s °F). It’s a very rainy month with 10 days of rain on average. But usually, one in four years has drier weather in the city. An occasional snowstorm is also possible even in April. The second month of spring can sometimes feel like summer in southwest Utah. St George and Zion National Park boast temperatures in 20s Celsius or 70s Fahrenheit. Visitors start to fill the parks. However, spring is always a mix of wet and warm weather in this area with occasional stormy days. There are about 6-7 rainy days at this time, and the weather can bring some nasty surprises.

Days warm up very quickly in Central Utah in May, and the temperature gets very comfortable for spending time outside, hiking, cycling, rafting, and wildflower watching. May is one of the best months to visit Salt Lake City to witness nature awakening everywhere. Even though this is one of the rainiest months, the rains are usually short and never extreme. But with 9-10 rainy days in a month, you’ll definitely need an umbrella. May marks the start of high season in the parks of Southwest Utah. Late spring is the best time to enjoy the outdoors within comfortable temperatures before it gets too hot. Also, it’s a great chance to admire those beautiful wildflowers. However, May also brings thunderstorms and lightning to the southwest, so make sure you check the forecast before planning a hike.

The first month of summer can bring hot and dry weather to the whole state of Utah. Salt Lake City and central areas experience the first heatwaves with temperatures rising above 30 °C (90 °F) in some areas. However, it’s not that bad due to cool breezes from the Great Salt Lake. Occasional thunderstorms are possible, and there are about six rainy days this month. June marks the beginning of the hot season in southwest Utah. It is still one of the most popular times to visit such parks as Canyonlands, Escalade, and Zion National Park. Visitors can count on warm temperatures, that can quickly raise to boiling during midday. So bring plenty of water and check the forecast regularly to avoid thunderstorms with lightning. There are about 3 days of precipitation during this month.

July is the hottest and the driest month in Utah. So if you don’t tolerate the heat it’s better to pick another time for your visit. Sunny days provide plenty of daylight time. And the temperatures are rising to extreme 38 °C (100 °F) in desert areas. The humidity is rather low, and there are just four days of rain at this time in the Salt Lake City Area. However, rain is not a big problem. Seven days with thunderstorms is something that can be concerning. Thunderstorms are also frequent in southwestern Utah, starting from mid-July. Extreme heat and lightning hazards are the main drawbacks of this season at Zion National Park and other attractions. Bring plenty of water, sunblock lotion, and try to finish your hike before the afternoon storm kicks in.

More sunny and dry weather awaits Utah visitors in August. But the temperature is slightly cooler than in the previous month. Despite the small amount of precipitation, August is the worst month in terms of thunderstorms. It is also getting windier. Wind speed is about 15 kmp (10 mph) in the Salt Lake City area. Thunderstorms are possible for 8 days this month. In the southwest, the weather is very much like in the north and central parts. Temperatures are still super hot, and it’s very dry with occasional thunderstorms.

September is one of the best times to visit Utah. The temperature drops to comfortable levels, and it feels great to be outside hiking, cycling or climbing. It’s very dry and sunny with over 10 hours of daylight and just 6 rainy days per month. As rains increase, thunderstorms become less frequent. Southwest Utah experiences warm, sunny, and very dry weather in September with very little rain or wind. It’s considered to be a perfect time for canyoning and mountaineering. Temperature is comfortable to be outside, and the thunderstorms get less common.

October is still a warm and sunny month in Utah, however, the north cools down faster than the south. In Salt Lake City area October could bring the first frost and snow. However, on most days it’s still sunny and warm enough to be outside for a long time. Plenty of hours of daylight leave lots of space for outdoor activities. Rain or snow is possible for 7 days per month. Heavy rainstorms may occur occasionally. October is one of the best months to visit parks in the southwest. The air temperatures at Zion National Park, Canyonland and Escalade are within the comfortable range between 15 and 28 °C ( 60 and 90 °F). It’s quite dry, however, snow is already possible at high elevations like Blowhard mountain. There are about 6 rainy days in October.

Northern, eastern and central parts of Utah cool down rapidly during November. Outdoor activities are usually over by this time, as cooler temperatures prevail, bringing snow, frost and ice. However, most days in November are still relatively warm with temperatures above freezing. There are about four days of snow and five days of rain this month in Salt Lake City area. Southwestern Utah is a bit warmer. Zion still boasts comfortable temperatures during the day. The Arches and Canyonlands also have decent temperatures for a hike. Despite the chance of rain or snow is a bit higher and decreased daylight, November is still an excellent time to tour the parks of the southwest.

Ski and snowboarding season usually kicks off in the mountains, as colder days prevail in December. Salt Lake City has considerably more snowfall, and clouds cover the skies during short days. At best you can count on some sun and temperature of around 10 °C (50 °F). There are two rainy and eight snowy days this month. Brighton and Silver Lake have the most snow and frost. The temperature drops below freezing at night. Southwest Utah also faces first cold and snow. However, the temperature is still bearable at Zion and St George to stay outside. First snow falls on the mountains. The biggest problems for visitors are short days and gloomy skies.