Salt Lake City, Utah, features a continental climate with four distinct seasons: hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. The city enjoys abundant sunshine, low humidity, and moderate rainfall, with dramatic temperature swings between seasons. Its climate supports year-round outdoor activities, from skiing in winter to hiking and lake adventures in summer.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Salt Lake City’s climate is shaped by its high elevation, proximity to the Great Salt Lake, and surrounding mountains. Summers (June–August) are hot, dry, and mostly clear, with average highs of 32–34°C (90–94°F) and lows around 18–20°C (65–68°F). July is the hottest month. Summer humidity is low, making the heat more tolerable, and rainfall is minimal, though brief thunderstorms can occur, especially during the late summer monsoon. Nights are cooler, and the city enjoys up to 14 hours of daylight and over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually. The Great Salt Lake moderates temperatures and occasionally enhances summer thunderstorms.
Winters (December–February) are cold and snowy, with average highs of 3–5°C (38–41°F) and lows of -5 to -2°C (24–28°F). Snow typically falls from November to March, averaging 100–150 cm (40–60 inches) per season, with the heaviest snow in January. The city’s dry air means snow often melts quickly, and roads are well maintained. Winter days are short, with 1–3 hours of sunshine and about 8–9 hours of daylight. Inversions – when cold air is trapped under warmer air – can cause poor air quality and fog. Spring and autumn are transitional, with mild to warm temperatures (10–22°C in spring, 8–20°C in autumn), moderate rainfall, and rapidly changing weather. Annual precipitation is around 400–500 mm, with rain most likely in spring and early summer. Winds are generally light to moderate, though storms can bring stronger gusts, especially in spring and autumn.
| Average climate data for Salt Lake City, United States | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 29 | 28 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 29 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -6 | -4 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 5 | -0 | -5 | -6 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 107 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 6 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 72 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 69 | 63 | 39 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 34 | 42 | 265 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 7 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 26 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 82 | 78 | 68 | 57 | 51 | 40 | 37 | 39 | 44 | 53 | 63 | 78 | 58 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 38 | 38 | 33 | 28 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 19 | 25 | 36 | 24 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
The best time to visit Salt Lake City is from late May to September, when temperatures are warm (22–34°C), days are long and sunny, and the city is vibrant with festivals and outdoor activities. Summer is ideal for hiking, boating, and exploring the Great Salt Lake, while early autumn offers pleasant weather and beautiful autumn colours.
The least favourable time to visit is from late March to early May, when weather is unpredictable, snowmelt causes muddy conditions, and outdoor activities can be limited. Winter (December–February) is best for skiing but may bring cold snaps, snow, and occasional air quality issues due to inversions.
Salt Lake City’s annual average temperature ranges from -4°C in January to 34°C in July. Winters are cold (highs 3–5°C), summers are hot (highs 32–34°C), and spring and autumn are mild.
Salt Lake City averages 100–150 cm (40–60 inches) of snow per winter, mostly from November to March. The heaviest snow falls in January, but snow can linger into April.
Salt Lake City does not have a true rainy season, but the wettest months are March to May. Summer is dry, with occasional brief thunderstorms, especially during the late summer monsoon.
Late spring through early autumn (May–September) is best for outdoor activities, with warm temperatures, abundant sunshine, and long days. Summer is ideal for hiking, boating, and festivals.
Yes, Salt Lake City is a top destination for winter sports. From December to March, nearby ski resorts offer excellent skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing with reliable snowfall.
Swimming outdoors is most comfortable from June to August, when air temperatures reach 30–34°C. The Great Salt Lake and local pools are popular for water activities in summer.
Pack layers for spring and autumn, sun protection and light clothing for summer, and insulated, waterproof clothing for winter. Bring a rain jacket in spring and check forecasts for air quality in winter.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (29.4 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (1 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 14.2 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (16.2 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-6.1 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 4.5 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is March (13 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is August (5.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 107 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is April (8.9 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is June (4.1 days). Over the whole year there are 71.7 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (68.9 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August and September (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 265 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (6.6 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are June, July and August (0 days). Over the whole year there are 25.9 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (81.9 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (37.3 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 57.5 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is March (10.7 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is January (8 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 9.5 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is February (38.5 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (8.5 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 23.6 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 12.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 5.1 h). Over the whole year there are 8.8 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 6). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.7.
