Kanab || Southern UtahKanab sits on the Arizona border and it's just about the warmest spot in Utah, so pack a medium jacket and treat winter like an artificial construct you can will out of existence.
13 Utah Winter Bucket-List Activities
- Fat-Tire Snow Biking.
- Winter Horseback Riding at Bryce Canyon National Park.
- Tubing at Soldier Hollow.
- Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride at Deer Valley Resort.
- Bobsledding at Olympic Park.
- Dog Sledding in Park City.
- Ice Fishing at Bear Lake.
- Midway Ice Castles.
Snow has already dusted Zion National Park and Arches National Park. All national parks are still open for the winter, however, and if you want to beat the crowds and can brave the cold, it might be the best time to go. Parks recommend traction devices and to "layer up" with extra clothes for hiking.
Winters in Zion National Park are cold and often wet. Temperatures can range from highs of 50-60°F during the day to lows well below freezing at night. Nearly half of the annual precipitation in Zion Canyon falls between the months of December and March.
December is a great time to explore Zion without the crowds. The glistening snow in the canyon and on top of the towering cliffs makes the park very photography-friendly. Winter in Zion is wonderful for sightseeing, especially since you are able to drive through the canyon in your own car.
Salt Lake City, Utah usually has more snowfall and cloud cover during December than any other month. Still some December days do warm up to over 50 °F (over 10 °C).
December and January are the coldest months of the year. The shortest day is December 21, (winter solstice) with just nine hours of daylight.
The Rocky Mountains to the east and north usually block powerful polar highs from affecting the state during the winter. Temperatures rarely fall below 0°F (-18°C), but frequently stay below freezing.
While Utah is widely perceived to be a desert state, and statistically it is the second driest state in the nation, its climate, soils, and vegetation are as diverse as are its landforms. Utah has three climatic regions--humid, sub-humid or semi-arid, and arid--and each region covers about one-third of the state.
Utah is known for its scenic beauty, and it might seem that it's one of the most expensive places to live in the country. However, this outdoor adventure paradise is actually cheaper than many states in the US. With low energy prices, property taxes, and a low utility index score, Utah has plenty to boast about.
In Salt Lake City, the summers are hot, dry, and mostly clear and the winters are very cold, snowy, and partly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 23°F to 93°F and is rarely below 10°F or above 100°F.
If you're curious, here are the places that get the least amount of snow in Utah with at least snow snowfall:
Washington -- 1.8 inches.
St.George -- 2.5 inches.
Before we get too far, here are the annual snowfall rates for major cities:
- Salt Lake City -- 61.1 inches.
- West Valley City -- 49.9 inches.
- Provo -- 50.5 inches.
The first snowfall of winter for Salt Lake City usually arrives in November, although about one in four Octobers also get some snow. The season's last snowfall typically happens in April. Very rarely a few snowflakes also land in May. Salt Lake City is normally free of snow every year from June to September.
You may think of deserts as always being hot, but there are two types of deserts: "hot" deserts and "cold" deserts. In fact, Utah is home to both hot and cold deserts. When it gets cold enough it will actually snow in these deserts.
Utah has three major geographic areas: the Rocky Mountains, the Basin and Ridge Region, and the Colorado Plateau. The Rocky Mountains region runs from northeastern Utah through the center of the state. It includes the 13,528-foot Kings Peak, Utah's highest point.
December Weather in Saint George Utah, United States. Daily high temperatures decrease by 5°F, from 57°F to 52°F, rarely falling below 42°F or exceeding 65°F. The lowest daily average high temperature is 52°F on December 25.
Southern Utah's Canyons
| Days | Place | Inches |
|---|
| 4.3 | Arches National Park | 6.4 |
| 31.6 | Bryce Canyon Park Headquarters | 89.6 |
| 8.1 | Canyonlands Park, The Needles | 14.3 |
| 7.0 | Capitol Reef National Park | 12.5 |
Here Are The Best February Adventures in Utah
- Bundle up and head to Midway Ice Castles.
- Catch a performance with the Utah Symphony.
- Take in the splendor of Bryce Canyon National Park.
- Go sledding at Gorgoza Park.
- Soak in the hot springs at Meadow Hot Springs.
- Go skiing at Snowbasin.
- Hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls.
Best Things to Do in December in Salt Lake City
- Festival of Trees at South Towne Expo Center.
- Christmas at the Grand America Hotel.
- Zoo Lights at Hogle Zoo.
- Messiah Sing In with Utah Symphony at Abravanel Hall.
- Ballet West Nutcracker at the Capitol Theatre.
- Christmas at City Creek Center.
- Torchlight Parade at Snowbird Resort.
Best time of year to visit UtahModerate crowds and temperatures in April–May and September–October make these months the best time to visit Utah and its national parks. Spring boasts active wildlife and blooming flowers. Pleasant fall wraps Utah in colorful foliage along the scenic drives.
In winter the average temperature is slightly below freezing except in Dixie. Daily temperatures vary widely: when Salt Lake City has July highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or above, nighttime temperatures range from the mid-50s to the mid-60s F (about 13 to 18 °C).
weather in decemberWinter in Yosemite it typically cold and snowy, although sunny and warm days are not too uncommon. The average temperature in Yosemite Valley and Wawona in December is a high of 47, and a low of 28 degrees Fahrenheit (8/-2 degrees Celsius). On average, it snows 7 days in December.
George, Utah has the best weather in the state. St. George is warmer than other cities due to its location in Southwest Utah, near the Arizona and Nevada borders.
Monsoon season has begun in Utah and is set to develop into the thick of its impactful phase in the coming days and weeks. The rain is just an effect of Utah's location when the winds and pressure systems converge after bringing in moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and California.
Utah Average Snow City Rank
| Rank | Average Snow â–¼ | City / Population |
|---|
| 1. | 175.23 inches | Independence, UT / 213 |
| 2. | 167.84 inches | Wallsburg, UT / 331 |
| 3. | 109.51 inches | Heber City, UT |
| 4. | 108.58 inches | Clear Creek, UT / 4 |
