If you’re planning a trip to Utah for New Year’s, you’ll need to get ready for real winter conditions. Most days feel cold, nights get downright freezing, and there’s a solid chance you’ll see snow—especially up in the mountains.
Utah’s mix of valleys and high elevations really shakes up the temperature and snowfall. Where you go in the state matters a lot.
In Salt Lake City, daily highs usually stick in the 30s °F. Lows often drop into the 20s °F.
Head to higher mountain towns like Park City and you’ll find it even colder. Snowstorms hit frequently, making ski slopes pretty much perfect.
Down south in St. George, the weather stays milder. Nights still hover near freezing, though.
These swings in temperature, plus changes in daylight and wind, really shape what early January feels like. If you’re thinking about skiing, hiking, or just soaking up the scenery, it helps to know what Utah’s winter weather might throw at you.
Typical Temperatures Around New Year’s in Utah
Utah around New Year’s means cold, snowy weather in the north, and milder, but still chilly, days in the south. Temperatures can shift a lot depending on whether you’re in a valley, desert, or up in the mountains.
Average Highs and Lows
In Salt Lake City, average highs near New Year’s are about 37°F (3°C). Lows dip to around 23°F (-5°C).
So, the days feel brisk, and at night, ice and snow usually stick around.
Over in Park City, which sits higher up, average highs are closer to 25°F (-4°C). Lows drop to about 12°F (-11°C).
These colder temps keep the ski season going strong, and you’ll want to layer up.
Farther south, Saint George feels much more comfortable. Average highs reach 54°F (12°C), and lows stay near 32°F (0°C).
You might see frost overnight, but days are a lot less harsh than up north.
These numbers should help you decide what to pack. Heavy coat for the north, lighter layers if you’re heading south.
Coldest Days and Temperature Extremes
Late December and January usually bring Utah’s coldest days. In northern valleys, the temperature sometimes falls into the single digits.
Mountain towns can get even colder, sometimes dropping below zero. That’s not as common in the south, but overnight freezes still happen.
Utah has seen extreme lows below -30°F (-34°C) in mountain basins, though that’s rare. More typical cold snaps in Salt Lake City bring lows between 5°F and 15°F.
Snow cover makes the cold feel even sharper. When a storm clears out, the sky can look gorgeous, but radiational cooling often pushes nighttime temps down even further.
If you’re spending time outside, expect a big difference between sunny afternoons and freezing mornings.
Saint George doesn’t usually drop below 20°F, which makes it a pretty appealing spot if you’re not a fan of the deep freeze.
Regional Differences: Northern vs. Southern Utah
Northern Utah, like Salt Lake City and Park City, gets colder and snowier. Mountain highs often stay below freezing, and valleys see regular snowstorms that make roads icy.
Southern Utah, especially around Saint George, gets far less snow. Days are often sunny, with highs in the low to mid-50s, but nights can still freeze.
If you want to skip the bitter cold, the south is a good bet.
Elevation really drives these differences. Park City and other high spots stay consistently colder, while the lower desert valleys remain milder.
So, depending on whether you’re heading north for skiing or south for hiking, your experience will be totally different.
Precipitation and Snowfall Patterns
January in Utah brings a mix—mountains get snow, valleys see lighter snow or rain. Higher elevations collect heavy accumulation that’s great for ski resorts.
Lower areas like Salt Lake City usually get smaller, steadier amounts of winter precipitation.
Average Snowfall Amounts
Snow really defines Utah in January. In Salt Lake City, the month brings about 3 to 4 inches of snow.
Park City, higher up, averages 10 to 11 inches in January alone.
Mountain areas like the Wasatch Range often pile up much more. These regions can see feet of snow in a month, which keeps winter sports going strong.
In Saint George and other southern valleys, snow is rare. If it does fall, it melts quickly.
This north-south contrast really highlights Utah’s wild winter climate.
If you’re traveling, plan for snowy roads in the north and mountain passes. The south usually stays dry and clear.
Rainfall Frequency and Intensity
Most January precipitation falls as snow, so rainfall is limited. In Salt Lake City, January averages just over 1 inch of liquid precipitation, usually tied to snow events.
Rain is more likely during brief warm spells, when temps climb above freezing.
Saint George gets about 0.9 inches of precipitation in January. Most of that comes as light rain showers, since snow is rare.
Rainy days are few—just 3 to 4 days with measurable precipitation.
In the mountains, precipitation happens more often, but it’s almost always snow.
You’ll see more wet days at higher elevations than in the valleys.
Rainfall intensity stays light to moderate. Heavy downpours don’t usually happen in January.
Storms tend to bring steady, lighter amounts, which help build snowpack in colder regions.
Mountain Snowpack and Water Content
Utah’s mountain snowpack matters a lot in January. Every storm adds layers of snow that store water for later in the year.
This snowpack acts like a natural reservoir, slowly releasing water into rivers and reservoirs as things warm up.
In the Wasatch and Uinta Mountains, January storms often bring snow with high water content. People sometimes call it “Sierra cement” because it’s heavier and stores more water than the light, powdery stuff.
Ski resorts like both powder and dense snow, but for water supply, the heavier snow is more valuable.
By late January, snow depths can reach several feet, depending on how many storms roll through.
If you visit, you’ll see mountain conditions change fast after each storm. Deep snow is great for skiing and snowboarding, but you’ll also want to watch for avalanche risks in the backcountry.
Sunshine and Daylight Hours
Sunshine and daylight in Utah change quickly in late December and early January. Days are short, the sun sits low, and that affects both the light and how warm it feels.
Typical Sunshine Duration
Salt Lake City averages about 4 to 4.5 hours of direct sunshine per day in January. This is one of the least sunny times of the year.
Clouds, haze, and storms often block the sun, but you’ll still get some bright breaks.
Usually, about 40–45% of daylight hours are sunny. That means more than half the day can be cloudy or dim, especially during storms.
Snow on the ground reflects sunlight, so even a short burst of sun can feel intense. If you’re outside, you’ll probably notice the glare is stronger than in summer, even with fewer hours of sun.
Sunglasses come in handy, especially midday when the sun is low but still packs a punch.
Daylight Hours Around New Year’s
Around New Year’s, daylight hits its shortest stretch of the year. Salt Lake City gets about 9 hours and 15 minutes of daylight each day.
Sunrise happens after 7:45 a.m. Sunset comes before 5:15 p.m.
The sun doesn’t climb very high—only about 26° above the horizon at noon. That means long shadows and not much warmth, even on clear days.
If you’re planning to be outside, keep in mind there’s a pretty limited window of daylight. Ski resorts and mountain areas usually open early to make the most of it.
Evening activities almost always need artificial lighting, since natural light fades fast.
Humidity and Relative Humidity Levels
Winter air in Utah holds more moisture than in summer, but cold temperatures keep the total water vapor low. This leads to higher relative humidity readings, even though the air still feels dry compared to coastal places.
Average Relative Humidity
Northern Utah, including Salt Lake City, usually sees relative humidity in late December and early January at 65–75%. That’s as high as it gets all year—summer can drop below 40%.
Mornings usually feel damper, sometimes over 70%. By afternoon, it drops closer to 60% as the day warms up.
Southern Utah, like St. George, stays drier. Winter relative humidity there is typically around 45–55%, still much higher than the bone-dry summer.
| Location | Average Relative Humidity (Jan) |
|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | ~70% |
| Park City | ~68% |
| St. George | ~50% |
So, the air feels damper than in Utah’s dry summers, but it’s still not what you’d call humid.
Impact on Comfort and Outdoor Activities
Cold air and higher relative humidity can make winter temps feel colder than the thermometer says. Moist air pulls heat from your body faster, so you might notice a sharper chill outside.
For skiing and snowboarding, higher humidity helps keep the snowpack firm and less likely to melt quickly, especially in the mountains.
If you’re out hiking or exploring the city, mornings can feel damp. Indoors, heaters dry the air fast, which can leave you with dry skin or a scratchy throat.
Layered clothing and a humidifier indoors can help a lot. If you’re sensitive to dry air, it’s worth thinking about after time outside in the cold.
Wind Conditions During Early January
Early January brings steady wind patterns across Utah. Winds don’t change much day to day, but valleys and mountains experience different speeds and directions.
Average Wind Speeds
In Salt Lake City, January’s average wind speed holds near 5 miles per hour. The calmest days usually show up in mid to late January, sometimes dropping below that.
Even when winds pick up, they rarely climb above 7 mph in the valleys.
These speeds aren’t extreme, but a persistent breeze can make the cold feel even sharper. Wind chill often knocks the “feels-like” temperature down a few degrees.
For example:
- Air temperature: 30°F
- Wind speed: 5 mph
- Feels like: about 25°F
You probably won’t notice sudden gusts in most towns. The steady air flow just adds to the winter chill, without making travel or outdoor activities dangerous.
Regional Variations in Wind
Wind patterns shift a bit depending on where you are. Along the Wasatch Front—Salt Lake City and Provo—winds usually blow from the south.
That direction dominates early January, making up almost half of all hourly readings.
Mountain regions like Park City or the Uintas get stronger, more unpredictable winds. Elevation ramps up wind speeds, sometimes bringing gusts above 15 mph on exposed ridges.
These conditions can affect skiing, hiking, or driving through canyon passes.
Down in St. George and southern Utah, things stay calmer. Average wind speeds are lower, and the warmer weather means wind chill isn’t much of an issue.
The difference between northern and southern Utah really shows how terrain and elevation shape your winter wind experience.
Weather Variability and Notable Trends
Utah’s weather around New Year’s can swing a lot depending on the year and your location. Temperature jumps, snow depth, and precipitation patterns all shift, changing up how winter feels each time you visit.
Year-to-Year Fluctuations
Winter weather can really swing from one year to the next. In Salt Lake City, January highs usually hit around 3°C (37°F). Some years, though, cold spells roll in and drop lows close to -10°C (14°F).
Saint George tends to stay pretty mild, with highs near 12°C (54°F). Still, every now and then, a cold snap will push temps below freezing.
Snowfall varies a lot, too. Park City averages almost 270 mm (10.6 in) of snow in January. Some years, you might barely see any, while other winters dump heavy storms that blow past the usual totals.
These ups and downs can change skiing conditions, make roads tricky, and even mess with air quality during those stubborn temperature inversions.
Precipitation jumps around just as much. Salt Lake City generally gets about 25 mm (1 in) of rain and melted snow in January. Some winters feel much wetter, but others seem to stretch on dry for ages.
So, you’ll want to pack for just about anything—stormy days, sunny spells, and everything in between.
Recent Weather Patterns and Records
Over the past few decades, Utah’s winters have felt noticeably warmer than they did back in the early 1900s. Sure, cold extremes still pop up from time to time, but honestly, those mild spells seem to come around more often now, especially down in the valleys.
This change tends to shrink the snowpack in cities like Salt Lake City, while the mountains get a messier mix of rain and snow.
Snowfall records really show how much things can swing. Park City has sometimes seen over 300 mm (12 in) of snow in January when the weather goes all out. Other years, though, the totals barely reach half that.
Saint George usually escapes with little or no snow. Every now and then, though, a surprise storm will coat the city for a day or two.
Precipitation patterns have shifted a bit, too. Lately, some midwinter storms show up late or drop rain instead of snow in the lower spots.
For travelers, it means ski conditions can change a lot from one year to the next. You might want to keep your plans a bit flexible with Utah’s unpredictable weather.