Six states can expect a large drop in temperatures later this week as a “strong cold front” works its way across the Western United States.
The cold front follows extended high temperatures that prompted multiple heat-related weather advisories, particularly across California, as temperatures climbed into the triple digits. Now, temperatures are expected to swing back the other direction for several Western states.
“A change in the weather is coming. A cooldown will arrive across Utah and SW Wyoming beginning with a strong cold front on Tuesday, with odds favoring below average temperatures continuing for the following several days,” the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Salt Lake City posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday. “Are you looking forward to fall-like temperatures?”
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The office included a map of the U.S. in its X post, in which several states are shaded to reflect that they have a higher chance of experiencing below-average temperatures from this Friday through part of next week. The states that are most likely to experience colder temperatures are Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and Arizona.
Below-average temperatures began as early as Monday in the Las Vegas region where meteorologists also warned of gusty winds.
“Temperatures drop over 10 degrees below seasonal averages & will remain below-average through the week,” NWS Las Vegas office wrote in a post on X.
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Average highs in the Las Vegas region for this time of year are around 95 degrees Fahrenheit, with average lows dipping to the low 70s. Highs in Las Vegas this week will remain in the low-80s. Low temperatures, meanwhile, are forecast in the high 50s and low 60s.
Temperatures will dip in Salt Lake City on Tuesday. Average highs this time of year in Salt Lake City are around 81 degrees, NWS senior meteorologist Monica Traphagan told Newsweek. On Tuesday, which is expected to be the region’s coldest day this week, the high is forecast to be 67 degrees.
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Traphagan added that it doesn’t look like temperatures will return to normal for at least the next seven days in the city.
NWS meteorologist Morgan Stessman previously told Newsweek that the cold front and the associated winds are related to a low-pressure system moving through California. The NWS office in Salt Lake City also credited the fall-like weather to a storm system.
“An approaching fall storm will bring some changes to the weather. Wind gusts to 50 mph are anticipated over W UT today and strong to severe storms are possible over N UT this afternoon ahead of the storm,” the office posted on X on Monday. “Behind it, highs Tuesday will be up to 20°F cooler than today.”
An approaching fall storm will bring some changes to the weather. Wind gusts to 50 mph are anticipated over W UT today and strong to severe storms are possible over N UT this afternoon ahead of the storm. Behind it, highs Tuesday will be up to 20°F cooler than today. #utwx pic.twitter.com/IDrqTSjBhK
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) September 16, 2024
The colder-than-normal weather comes as California experiences a plunge in temperatures and likely the first substantial snowfall of the year in Yosemite National Park where several inches of snow was expected to accumulate through Monday as an early winter storm moved through the higher elevations.
The most recent NWS Climate Prediction Center temperature outlook, which was issued on Sunday and is valid for September 21 through 25, shows that below-average temperatures will become less widespread next week, focusing in Idaho, southwestern Montana, far western Wyoming and far northern Utah. The central and Midwestern U.S. can expect temperatures above average, according to the outlook, and the Eastern U.S. and the Southwest will be near normal.
