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Ski resort in Utah, United States
Alta
A skiers-only resort in Alta, Utah, with 2,614 skiable acres and an average of 543 inches of snow a winter.
Forecast updated , when it was 03:00 in Alta (GMT-7).
Alta snow forecast at 3,216 m (top lift)
Next 24 hours on the upper mountain
Rain or snow tonight.
Starting around 5pm, easing by 7pm. 0–15 cm in the next 24 hours. Temperatures are close to 0°C, so some of it may fall as rain.
Possible, two of three forecast models show snow
Alta at the top lift (3,216 m / 10,600 ft) is forecast to get 0–15 cm (0–5 in) of snow in the next 24 hours and 25–45 cm (10–17 in) over the next 7 days. Two of the three weather models we compare forecast snow in the next 24 hours. Expect temperatures from −4 to 2 °C (25 to 36 °F), the freezing level near 3,000 m (9,800 ft) and gusts up to 52 km/h (32 mph) over the next day. It should be sunny on Sunday.
- Temperature now
- −3 °C (27 °F)
- Freezing level
- 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
- Wind
- 11 km/h (7 mph), gusts 28 km/h (17 mph)
- Sky now
- Overcast, 99% cloud
Alta hour by hour, on the upper mountain
Peak about 1 cm per hourShow the hours as a table
| Time | Weather | Snowfall |
|---|---|---|
| 5pm | Rain or snow | 0.7 cm (0.3 in) |
| 6pm | Rain or snow | 0.4 cm (0.2 in) |
| 7pm | Rain | None |
| 11pm | Rain or snow | Under 0.1 cm |
| midnight | Snow | 0.5 cm (0.2 in) |
| 1am | Snow | 0.7 cm (0.3 in) |
| 2am | Rain or snow | 1 cm (0.5 in) |
Hours not listed are dry. Times are local (GMT-7).
Alta 7-day snow forecast, on the upper mountain
Best day to ski in Alta this week: Sunday. 13 cm the day before, sunny, light wind. How we grade a ski day.
| Day | Weather | Snowfall |
|---|---|---|
| Today | Light snowPoor ski day−4 to 2 °C (25 to 36 °F) · gusts 52 km/h (32 mph) · freezing level 3,000 m (9,800 ft) | 0–4 cm (0–2 in) |
| Sat | Rain and snowPoor ski day−9 to −3 °C (16 to 27 °F) · gusts 46 km/h (29 mph) · freezing level 2,350 m (7,700 ft) | 5–25 cm (2–9 in) |
| Sun | SunnyBest day−10 to 0 °C (14 to 32 °F) · freezing level 2,750 m (9,000 ft) | No snow |
| Mon | Some sunFair ski day−6 to 1 °C (21 to 34 °F) · freezing level 3,050 m (10,000 ft) | No snow |
| Tue | Rain and snowPoor ski day−10 to −4 °C (14 to 25 °F) · gusts 51 km/h (32 mph) · freezing level 2,450 m (8,000 ft) | 10–15 cm (4–6 in) |
| Wed | Light snowGood ski day−15 to −7 °C (5 to 19 °F) · freezing level 2,000 m (6,600 ft) | 0–2 cm (under 1 in) |
| Thu | SnowFair ski day−11 to −8 °C (12 to 18 °F) · gusts 40 km/h (25 mph) · freezing level 2,200 m (7,200 ft) | 3–25 cm (1–9 in) |
Sky is graded over the ski day, 9am to 4pm. Bluebird means at least two of the three models show clear skies all day, none shows overcast, and no snow or rain is forecast. Models are weaker on cloud than on snow, and none of them can see valley fog, so treat it as a good sign rather than a promise.
Alta 14-day snow outlook, on the upper mountain
Days 8 to 14. Only two of our three models run this far ahead, and forecasts at this range often change, so read this as a guide to the pattern rather than a plan.
| Day | Weather | Snowfall |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 20 Nov | Chance of snow−12 to −7 °C (10 to 19 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow | 0–6 cm (0–3 in) |
| Sat 21 Nov | Chance of snow−14 to −8 °C (7 to 18 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow | 0–7 cm (0–3 in) |
| Sun 22 Nov | Chance of snow−14 to −9 °C (7 to 16 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow | 0–3 cm (under 1 in) |
| Mon 23 Nov | Cloudy−15 to −8 °C (5 to 18 °F) | No snow |
| Tue 24 Nov | Some sun−16 to −6 °C (3 to 21 °F) | No snow |
| Wed 25 Nov | Cloudy−14 to −8 °C (7 to 18 °F) | No snow |
| Thu 26 Nov | Some sun−14 to −7 °C (7 to 19 °F) | No snow |
How much snow is there in Alta on the upper mountain?
No snow on the ground
This is an estimate from weather models, not a measurement, so it can differ from the depth a resort reports on its pistes. Check the official snow report before you travel.
Alta snow forecast at 2,600 m (village)
Next 24 hours in the village
Rain or snow tonight.
Starting around 5pm, easing by 6pm. 0–7 cm in the next 24 hours. Temperatures are close to 0°C, so some of it may fall as rain.
Possible, two of three forecast models show snow
Alta in the village (2,600 m / 8,500 ft) is forecast to get 0–7 cm (0–3 in) of snow in the next 24 hours and 25–40 cm (10–16 in) over the next 7 days. Two of the three weather models we compare forecast snow in the next 24 hours. Expect temperatures from 0 to 7 °C (32 to 45 °F), the freezing level near 3,000 m (9,800 ft) and gusts up to 50 km/h (31 mph) over the next day. It should be sunny on Sunday.
- Temperature now
- 1 °C (34 °F)
- Freezing level
- 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
- Wind
- 9 km/h (6 mph), gusts 30 km/h (19 mph)
- Sky now
- Overcast, 99% cloud
Alta hour by hour, in the village
Peak about 1 cm per hourShow the hours as a table
| Time | Weather | Snowfall |
|---|---|---|
| 5pm | Rain or snow | 0.3 cm (0.1 in) |
| 6pm | Rain | None |
| 7pm | Rain | None |
| 11pm | Rain or snow | Under 0.1 cm |
| midnight | Snow | 0.6 cm (0.2 in) |
| 1am | Snow | 0.6 cm (0.2 in) |
| 2am | Rain or snow | 1 cm (0.4 in) |
Hours not listed are dry. Times are local (GMT-7).
Alta 7-day snow forecast, in the village
| Day | Weather | Snowfall |
|---|---|---|
| Today | Chance of snow0 to 7 °C (32 to 45 °F) · gusts 50 km/h (31 mph) · freezing level 3,100 m (10,200 ft) | 0–2 cm (under 1 in) |
| Sat | Rain and snow−5 to 0 °C (23 to 32 °F) · gusts 45 km/h (28 mph) · freezing level 2,350 m (7,700 ft) | 5–20 cm (2–8 in) |
| Sun | Sunny−6 to 4 °C (21 to 39 °F) · freezing level 2,750 m (9,000 ft) | No snow |
| Mon | Some sun−2 to 5 °C (28 to 41 °F) · freezing level 3,050 m (10,000 ft) | No snow |
| Tue | Rain and snow−6 to 0 °C (21 to 32 °F) · gusts 51 km/h (32 mph) · freezing level 2,450 m (8,000 ft) | 10–15 cm (4–6 in) |
| Wed | Light snow−11 to −3 °C (12 to 27 °F) · freezing level 2,000 m (6,600 ft) | 0–2 cm (under 1 in) |
| Thu | Snow−7 to −4 °C (19 to 25 °F) · gusts 40 km/h (25 mph) · freezing level 2,200 m (7,200 ft) | 3–25 cm (1–9 in) |
Sky is graded over the ski day, 9am to 4pm. Bluebird means at least two of the three models show clear skies all day, none shows overcast, and no snow or rain is forecast. Models are weaker on cloud than on snow, and none of them can see valley fog, so treat it as a good sign rather than a promise.
Alta 14-day snow outlook, in the village
Days 8 to 14. Only two of our three models run this far ahead, and forecasts at this range often change, so read this as a guide to the pattern rather than a plan.
| Day | Weather | Snowfall |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 20 Nov | Chance of snow−8 to −3 °C (18 to 27 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow | 0–6 cm (0–3 in) |
| Sat 21 Nov | Chance of snow−10 to −4 °C (14 to 25 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow | 0–7 cm (0–3 in) |
| Sun 22 Nov | Chance of snow−10 to −5 °C (14 to 23 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow | 0–3 cm (under 1 in) |
| Mon 23 Nov | Cloudy−11 to −4 °C (12 to 25 °F) | No snow |
| Tue 24 Nov | Some sun−12 to −2 °C (10 to 28 °F) | No snow |
| Wed 25 Nov | Cloudy−10 to −4 °C (14 to 25 °F) | No snow |
| Thu 26 Nov | Some sun−10 to −3 °C (14 to 27 °F) | No snow |
How much snow is there in Alta in the village?
No snow on the ground
This is an estimate from weather models, not a measurement, so it can differ from the depth a resort reports on its pistes. Check the official snow report before you travel.
Where is Alta?
- State
- Utah
- Country
- United States
- Mountains
- Rocky Mountains, Wasatch Range
- Village
- 2,600 m
- Top lift
- 3,216 m
- Vertical
- 616 m
- Season
- Late November to Late April
- Official
- Snow report, Lifts open, Avalanche bulletin
- Passes
- Ikon Pass, Mountain Collective
- Website
- www.alta.com
About Alta
Alta Ski Area is in the town of Alta, Utah, in the Wasatch Range. Alta is a skiers-only mountain: snowboarding is not allowed.
The ski area has 2,614 skiable acres, rising from a base at 8,530 ft (2,600 m) to 11,068 ft (3,374 m). Alta reports an average of 543 inches of snow each winter.
The snow
Alta, at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, is one of the snowiest resorts in North America, and the reason is the canyon: storms crossing the Great Salt Lake are funnelled up it and unload. The base is at 2,600 m and the lifts reach 3,216 m. Our record, which underestimates snowfall here as it does at all resorts with strong local effects, still shows about 14 snowy days at mid-mountain in March and 12 in January and February, and the record winter of 2022/23 at 41% above the ten-year average. Snow was on the ground every Christmas Day in the last ten years.
Who it suits
Skiers only: Alta does not allow snowboards. It is a mountain for powder and for people who like an old-fashioned resort with a handful of lodges and no village. The terrain is steep and open at the top and gentle lower down. Alta is on the Ikon Pass and the Mountain Collective, and shares a pass with Snowbird next door.
Getting there
Salt Lake City airport is about 45 minutes by road. The canyon road closes for avalanche control after big storms, sometimes for a day or more, and chains or four-wheel drive are often required.
When does it snow in Alta?
In Alta, snow falls on about 14 days in March in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from September to May.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 days | 12 days | 14 days | 11 days | 8 days | 2 days | 0 days | 0 days | 2 days | 5 days | 8 days | 10 days |
Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall at mid-mountain, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.
Snow in Alta month by month
Averages for 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain, from ERA5 reanalysis data. A sunny day has sunshine for at least 70% of the daylight hours.
| Month | Snow days | Share of the year's snow | Low to high | Sunny days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12 | 16% | −12 to −5 °C (10 to 23 °F) | 20 |
| February | 12 | 15% | −12 to −5 °C (10 to 23 °F) | 18 |
| March | 14 | 16% | −9 to −2 °C (16 to 28 °F) | 21 |
| April | 11 | 13% | −6 to 2 °C (21 to 36 °F) | 24 |
| May | 8 | 7% | −2 to 7 °C (28 to 45 °F) | 27 |
| June | 2 | 1% | 5 to 16 °C (41 to 61 °F) | 28 |
| July | 0 | 0% | 11 to 21 °C (52 to 70 °F) | 30 |
| August | 0 | 0% | 10 to 19 °C (50 to 66 °F) | 29 |
| September | 2 | 2% | 6 to 15 °C (43 to 59 °F) | 27 |
| October | 5 | 8% | −2 to 6 °C (28 to 43 °F) | 26 |
| November | 8 | 9% | −8 to 0 °C (18 to 32 °F) | 23 |
| December | 10 | 12% | −11 to −4 °C (12 to 25 °F) | 19 |
Snow in Alta in September
In September, Alta gets snow on about 2 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 2% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 6 to 15 °C (43 to 59 °F). About 27 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.
Snow in Alta in October
In October, Alta gets snow on about 5 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 8% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −2 to 6 °C (28 to 43 °F). About 26 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.
Snow in Alta in November
In November, Alta gets snow on about 8 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 9% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −8 to 0 °C (18 to 32 °F). About 23 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.
Snow in Alta in December
In December, Alta gets snow on about 10 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 12% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −11 to −4 °C (12 to 25 °F). About 19 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.
Snow in Alta in January
In January, Alta gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 16% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −12 to −5 °C (10 to 23 °F). About 20 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.
Snow in Alta in February
In February, Alta gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 15% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −12 to −5 °C (10 to 23 °F). About 18 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.
Snow in Alta in March
In March, Alta gets snow on about 14 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 16% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −9 to −2 °C (16 to 28 °F). About 21 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.
Snow in Alta in April
In April, Alta gets snow on about 11 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 13% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −6 to 2 °C (21 to 36 °F). About 24 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.
Snow in Alta in May
In May, Alta gets snow on about 8 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 7% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −2 to 7 °C (28 to 45 °F). About 27 days are sunny for most of the daylight hours.
Which winters were snowiest in Alta?
Of the last ten winters in Alta, 2022/23 was the snowiest, about 41% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2020/21, about 37% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 1 January 2023.
| Winter | Compared with average | |
|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | 109% of average | |
| 2017/18 | 84% of average | |
| 2018/19 | 116% of average | |
| 2019/20 | 78% of average | |
| 2020/21 | 63% of average | |
| 2021/22 | 95% of average | |
| 2022/23 | 141% of average | |
| 2023/24 | 117% of average | |
| 2024/25 | 105% of average | |
| 2025/26 | 92% of average |
Winters are compared with each other rather than given in centimetres. The ERA5 record is reliable on which winters were big and which were lean, but it underestimates absolute snowfall in the mountains, so the resort's own measured totals are the ones to trust for amounts.
Questions about snow in Alta
Does Alta have snow at Christmas?
Alta had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Christmas Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 20 to 26 December in every one of those years.
Does Alta have snow at New Year?
Alta had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on New Year's Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 27 December to 2 January in 8 of those years.
Does Alta have snow in mid-February?
Alta had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 15 February in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 10 to 20 February in every one of those years.
Does Alta have snow at Easter?
Alta had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Easter Sunday in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during Good Friday to Easter Monday in 7 of those years.
How many days a year does it snow in Alta?
It snows on about 84 days a year in Alta at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. March has the most, about 14 days.
What is the snowiest month in Alta?
January is the snowiest month in Alta, bringing about 16% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025. March has the most snowy days, about 14.
Which recent winter was the snowiest in Alta?
Of the last ten winters in Alta, 2022/23 was the snowiest, about 41% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2020/21, about 37% below average.
How cold does Alta get in winter?
January is the coldest month in Alta at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −12 °C (10 °F) and highs of −5 °C (23 °F).
How many bluebird days does Alta get in winter?
From December to March, Alta averages about 20 days a month with sunshine for at least 70% of the daylight hours at mid-mountain, and about 7.4 hours of sunshine a day. March is the sunniest of those months. The figures are from ERA5 reanalysis for 2016 to 2025, which sees cloud over a region well but cannot see valley fog.
How high is Alta?
The village or lowest lift at Alta is at 2,600 m (8,500 ft) and the top lift is at 3,216 m (10,600 ft), a vertical drop of 616 m (2,000 ft).
When does the ski season start in Alta?
The lifts at Alta usually open in late November and close in late April. Exact dates change each year with the snow, so check the resort's own website before you book.
Snow forecasts near Alta
Compare Alta for snow
Facts checked 18 September 2026. Sources: About Alta Ski Area, Wikipedia: Alta Ski Area, J2Ski: Alta season dates, Skiresort.com, Alta, Alta lift and terrain status