Weather about to turn cold and wet

SALT LAKE CITY — Pull those ponchos, umbrellas and sweatshirts out for Saturday and Sunday.

According to the Salt Lake Office of the National Weather Service, the mild fall weather pattern will become more winter-like this weekend with cool and wet weather.

Saturday's daytime high will only reach 57 degrees, with an 80 percent chance of precipitation.

It will be even wetter in the mountains, with several inches of snow possible.

"A fairly potent cold front will arrive in the afternoon on Saturday, so deer hunters and those venturing into the high country — mostly above 8,000 to 8,500 feet — will encounter a much different morning than afternoon, as conditions deteriorate," Dan Pope, KSL meteorologist, said.

"Showers will dribble over the area on Sunday at times ahead of a more potent storm system due to arrive presunrise Monday. The air behind it is cold enough to bring snow to the benches during the day on Monday. Another part of the storm will continue the threat Monday night and Tuesday, but with temperatures cold enough to create lake effect snow squalls east and south of the Great Salt Lake, this may be the best chance for the first official snowfall for the valleys. Temperatures will turn much colder Monday through Wednesday," he said.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights in the Salt Lake Valley will dip to freezing or below — the first time they've done that since last spring.

The high temperature on Tuesday will only be 46 degrees and will rise to 57 degrees by Thursday.

According to the Weather Service, Sunday night in Salt Lake is the most likely time for moisture with a 100 percent chance of rain in the valley.

Sunday's daytime temperature, barely expected to reach 60 degrees, will feel cool, given the fact that temperatures so far in October have been 5.5 degrees above average.

Moisture-wise, rain or snow is needed in the Salt Lake Valley. The month of October so far at the Salt Lake International Airport has produced just 0.14 inches of moisture. That's well below the month's average total of 1.07 inches.

Expect a chance of rain and even snow showers from Monday through Wednesday.

Thursday will be mostly sunny with highs in the mid-50s.

e-mail: lynn@desnews.com