Cold storm will blow into Utah

Batten down the hatches Tuesday afternoon. Then find an umbrella, a winter coat and perhaps even a snow shovel.

Utah's weather will dramatically switch from summer to winter in a day as an approaching cold, wet storm could drop daily high temperatures an estimated 35 degrees from Tuesday to Wednesday.

While Salt Lake City's high temperature Tuesday was expected to peak at 84 degrees, plan on only a high of 49 degrees Wednesday, according to the Salt Lake Office of the National Weather Service.

These temperatures will really seem cold, because the weather has been so warm recently — even overnight.

For example, Salt Lake City International Airport set a record high minimum temperature record of 68 degrees Monday night. That shattered the previous record for Sept. 29 of 60 degrees, set in 2001. Also, Salt Lake City had a high temperature Monday afternoon of 89 degrees, only two degrees below the all-time record and 17 degrees above normal.

The snow level could drop to the 5,000-foot elevation level by Wednesday night in the valleys.

In advance of the storm, south wind gusts of up to 45 mph could race through Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday night will feature showers and thunderstorms — with an 80 percent chance of precipitation. Overnight lows could dip to 47 degrees.

Wednesday night will have a definite freeze danger for gardens, with a low of 32 degrees expected in the Salt Lake Valley.

The last time the Salt Lake airport reported a temperature at or below freezing at night was back on April 6 — almost six months ago. The last time Salt Lake City had a high of 49 degrees or less during the daytime was on April 16, at 44 degrees.

Thursday will have a 20 percent chance of showers under mostly cloudy skies and a high near 53 degrees.

After a Thursday night low of 37, temperatures will warm to 58 by Friday under mostly sunny skies. Saturday is forecast to have a slight chance of showers and a high of 68 degrees.

Saturday evening is expected to dip to 47 degrees, while Sunday will have a chance of showers under 60-degree temperatures.

Monday is forecast to also have a chance of rain, with 63-degree temperatures.

e-mail: lynn@desnews.com