As many Park City residents are aware, the level of snowfall so far in 2026 is bleak. What is going on with the weather in Utah, and how will it affect our economy and environment? My hope is to try to answer some of these questions. 

As of this January, Utah has received only around 63% of its average precipitation. Utah is currently in a ‘high-pressure system,’ which is characterized by warmer-than-usual temperatures and dryness, as well as winter inversions trapping cold air into Utah’s valleys. This has a lot to do with the polar jet stream, which is currently positioned north. If it were to move south, as it is predicted to in late February/March, Park City is forecast to get more snowfall. 

So what does the current snow drought mean for Park City? So far, ski industries in Park City have lost $1.32 billion, and the state of Utah has lost $2.51 billion dollars in revenue. The decrease in ski tourism will negatively impact the local economy in numerous ways. Roughly 75%-85% of local tax dollars come from tourism. Looking past the 2026 season, Utah’s environment is under direct threat from climate change. The evaporation of the Great Salt Lake not only means the impending danger of a toxic dust bowl in the Salt Lake Valley, but also the reduction of precipitation that comes from the ‘lake effect.’ Additionally, rising global temperatures will strengthen high-pressure systems and worsen inversion in Utah valleys. 

While the outlook is quite negative for Utah, we can all do our part to fix this narrative by pressuring state and local leaders to implement sustainable policies and by exercising sustainable daily habits in our own lives. 

By Grayson Rae