Winter just won't leave Utah

Just call it Utah's fifth season — "sprinter," somewhere between spring and winter.

A cold front swept through Utah Wednesday, bringing a return to winter, more than a month into the official spring season.

According to the National Weather Service, the snow level in Salt Lake lowered to 4,400 feet by Wednesday afternoon, keeping the day's high temperature in the upper 40s.

Chances of rain and snow showers are forecast through Sunday. Then, there's a slight chance of rain through Tuesday, the day when temperatures could return to the low 60s.

Heavy accumulations of snow are expected in the mountains through Thursday, especially in the peaks east and southeast of Salt Lake City.

Some lake-effect snowfall is also possible, with the waters of the Great Salt Lake being warmer than the air temperature.

The good news? The National Weather Service canceled its high-wind warning in Salt Lake on Wednesday morning. However, northerly winds of 15-25 mph were expected for Wednesday afternoon, but not the damaging type of winds that raked Utah on Tuesday.

Wind gusts of up to 83 mph blasted the Great Salt Lake Marina Wednesday at 1 a.m.

Cardiff Peak in Big Cottonwood Canyon had the state's highest recorded wind gust — 105 mph at 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Fortunately, wind gusts were less in populated areas, with Salt Lake City recording a 53 mph wind, the Salt Lake Airport 51 mph and the University of Utah 47 mph.

Despite the winds, Salt Lake City hit 75 degrees Tuesday, its second-highest temperature of the month. An almost 30-degree temperature drop from that was predicted through at least Monday.

Even Sunday will have a chance of moisture, according to the Weather Service, with the snow level dropping to 4,500 feet.

Overnight temperatures will be a problem for farmers. The morning low both Thursday and Friday could dip to barely above the freezing mark at 33 degrees in the Salt Lake Valley — and colder in higher elevation areas.

TV weather forecasts are more hopeful.

Grant Weyman, KSL weathercaster, said while cold weather can be expected through the weekend, he predicts Sunday will be the last day for moisture with this storm. Monday and Tuesday will be partly cloudy days, but with no rain or snow.

More good weather news is that the Salt Lake City International Airport had received 95 percent of its normal precipitation for April prior to this latest storm, with 1.91 inches of water. This significant storm will easily push the total above normal.

e-mail: lynn@desnews.com