OPTION A · 5 SKI DAYS
Alta
December 2026–February 2027
1. The season ahead
NOAA seasonal probability bands
Precipitation: Equal chances
Temperature: Equal chances
Issued Oct 15, 2026 · Use before Nov 19, 2026 (UTC)Regional temperature and precipitation signals, not snowfall totals or your ski-week forecast. NOAA percentages are lower edges of probability bands; equal chances favors no category. CanSIPS uses a coarse 1° grid, and rounded percentages may not sum to 100. NOAA bands and CanSIPS category probabilities use different displays; do not rank mountains by comparing those percentages.
What is normal at Alta? Monthly station · snow frequency, cold days and monthly totals
NOAA’s 1991–2020 station normals put seasonal outlooks in context. These are historical averages, not this winter’s forecast or the exact regional thresholds used by NOAA’s outlook. Seasonal precipitation odds cannot be converted into inches of snow.
ALTA, UT US · 8,710 ft station elevation · 2.3 km from our mountain map point. Conditions vary across the ski area; no summit or elevation adjustment is applied.
See the observing station on a map ↗
Selected seasonal months: Dec, Jan, Feb. Marked rows show historical monthly averages for context, not predictions for those months this winter.
How often did snow and cold days occur?
A monthly snowfall total does not tell you how often snow arrived. Compare the station’s historical average number of days meeting each threshold below. Averages can be fractional.
Scroll sideways to see all three measures. Month labels stay visible.
| Month | Snowfall ≥1 inch (2.54 cm) | Snowfall ≥3 inches (7.62 cm) | Daily high ≤32°F (0°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JanSelected month | 12.7 daysStandard · 30 years | 8.9 daysStandard · 30 years | 18.2 daysStandard · 30 years |
| FebSelected month | 12.2 daysStandard · 30 years | 9.2 daysStandard · 30 years | 15.9 daysStandard · 29 years |
| Mar | 11.5 daysStandard · 28 years | 7.9 daysStandard · 28 years | 10.2 daysStandard · 29 years |
| Apr | 9.7 daysStandard · 28 years | 7.0 daysStandard · 28 years | 5.8 daysStandard · 28 years |
| May | 4.2 daysStandard · 30 years | 2.7 daysStandard · 30 years | 0.7 daysStandard · 30 years |
| Jun | 1.2 daysStandard · 29 years | 0.8 daysStandard · 29 years | 0.1 daysStandard · 30 years |
| Jul | 0.0 daysStandard · 27 years | 0.0 daysStandard · 27 years | 0.0 daysStandard · 30 years |
| Aug | 0.0 daysStandard · 26 years | 0.0 daysStandard · 26 years | 0.0 daysStandard · 29 years |
| Sep | 0.7 daysStandard · 27 years | 0.5 daysStandard · 27 years | 0.1 daysStandard · 29 years |
| Oct | 4.7 daysStandard · 28 years | 3.3 daysStandard · 28 years | 2.2 daysStandard · 29 years |
| Nov | 9.2 daysStandard · 30 years | 6.4 daysStandard · 30 years | 10.1 daysStandard · 30 years |
| DecSelected month | 12.9 daysStandard · 29 years | 8.9 daysStandard · 29 years | 17.8 daysStandard · 29 years |
The ≥3-inch days are already included in the ≥1-inch days; do not add the columns. These are station normals, not your trip’s chance of fresh snow, a count of skiable powder days or a forecast for this winter. Daily highs at or below freezing do not establish snow quality, snowmaking or open terrain. Each metric can use a different record length.
Temperature and monthly snowfall totals
| Month | Normal high | Normal low | Snowfall total |
|---|---|---|---|
| JanSelected month | 30.7°FStandard · 30 years | 15.0°FStandard · 30 years | 74.7″Provisional · 15 years |
| FebSelected month | 30.7°FStandard · 29 years | 15.4°FStandard · 30 years | 81.2″Provisional · 15 years |
| Mar | 36.8°FStandard · 29 years | 20.2°FStandard · 29 years | 71.4″Provisional · 15 years |
| Apr | 42.3°FStandard · 28 years | 24.8°FStandard · 28 years | 50.0″Provisional · 12 years |
| May | 52.6°FStandard · 30 years | 33.4°FStandard · 30 years | 15.9″Provisional · 16 years |
| Jun | 64.4°FStandard · 30 years | 42.2°FStandard · 29 years | 4.4″Provisional · 22 years |
| Jul | 72.9°FStandard · 30 years | 50.3°FStandard · 29 years | 0.0″Standard · 27 years |
| Aug | 71.3°FStandard · 29 years | 49.1°FStandard · 29 years | 0.0″Standard · 24 years |
| Sep | 62.2°FStandard · 29 years | 41.1°FStandard · 29 years | 2.6″Provisional · 23 years |
| Oct | 49.5°FStandard · 29 years | 31.0°FStandard · 29 years | 24.4″Provisional · 17 years |
| Nov | 37.4°FStandard · 30 years | 20.7°FStandard · 30 years | 53.9″Provisional · 11 years |
| DecSelected month | 30.2°FStandard · 29 years | 14.5°FStandard · 29 years | 79.8″Provisional · 12 years |
Years show contributing records, not a promise of 30 complete years. Standard: at least 24 years; missing months may be filled. Representative: at least 10 years with gaps filled using nearby stations. Provisional: at least 10 years with gaps unfilled. Estimated: statistically estimated from shorter records. Nonzero values rounded to zero retain that source flag.
NOAA station USC00420072 · source CSV ↗ · Methods & quality flags ↗ · Threshold definitions ↗ · Temperature / snowfall totals reviewed 2026-09-14; frequency fields reviewed 2026-10-07.
CLOSER TO DEPARTURE
The weather on your ski dates
Add your first ski day above to check weather for this trip.
Weather checks keep your budget quotes. No forecast is saved with the comparison.
NWS snow level describes the rain–snow transition above sea level, not snow depth or the freezing level. How to read snow level ↗ Forecasts change and do not establish lift openings or terrain conditions.
Full mountain forecast & source details →2. Check lift access
Reviewed pass access is currently unavailable. Check operator terms before entering costs.
Review lift-access rules →Pass context is for one skier; your group may hold different passes. Enter the group’s confirmed lift cost below. A pass selection does not automatically make that cost zero.
Small details. Better ski trips.
Local details that affect your Alta budget
Check transport, parking and pass-use details before entering your quotes. These tips do not fill in prices or change your budget.
Save tips in this browser for your next ski day. No account needed.
Official sourceCheck the canyon before leavingRead tip & sources
UDOT directs travelers to @UDOTCottonwoods on X and its travel resources for road updates. Check these before leaving for the mountain. The linked account is an official source shortcut; this card does not report current road status.
Confirm current details with the source before booking.
Community experienceBudget for the bus, but check the boarding planRead tip & sources
A January 2026 r/UTsnow discussion describes full buses passing waiting riders. That past experience does not establish today's capacity or a guaranteed arrival time. UTA now plans a December 6, 2026 start for seasonal ski routes, with further details due in early November. Planned Canyon Service remains contingent on a UDOT partnership agreement. Visit Salt Lake still asks travelers to check back for 2026/27 details. Before booking a stay without a car, confirm the actual timetable for your ski dates, the stop near your lodging and the last return. Include connections and a backup ride for your whole group. A start announcement or old route frequency does not confirm a seat or a complete trip plan.
Source checked: Oct 7, 2026.
Community post: Jan 10, 2026. A traveler’s experience, not a live operations report.
Confirm current details with the source before booking.
Community experienceCheck Alta's parking inventory and cancellation rulesRead tip & sources
A January 2025 community guide describes canceled parking spaces returning to inventory; treat that as a planning lead, not an available space. Alta's current 2026/27 page says booking opens in mid-October and limits accounts to four active free or paid reservations; available same-day reservations do not count toward that limit. A lift pass does not book parking. Check availability before fixing a lesson or lodging plan, and cancel before 8am if your plans change. Alta lists no-show fees after the first warning. Recheck the full operator calendar: its page mixes new-season and older dates, and parking availability does not establish an open canyon road.
Source checked: Oct 7, 2026.
Community post: Jan 26, 2025. A traveler’s experience, not a live operations report.
Confirm current details with the source before booking.
Official sourceUse Alta-Bird transit benefits before paying twiceRead tip & sources
Alta's 2026/27 Alta-Bird benefit includes UTA Ski Bus travel and requires tapping the pass. Connecting TRAX and other UTA travel qualifies only when used in transit with a ski-bus route; separate use can forfeit the benefit. Verify each traveler's pass and the exact connection before counting a fare as included, especially an airport transfer. UTA plans a December 6, 2026 seasonal start and says further details will be available in early November; this announcement does not confirm departure times or the last return. Compare lodging, airport transfers, uncovered fares and a backup ride for your whole group with a rental car plus parking. Confirm your travel date, nearest stop and return service before booking lodging around the bus.
Source checked: Oct 7, 2026.
Confirm current details with the source before booking.
3. Your group’s trip budget
Complete all five costs with valid amounts to calculate this option.
Opens only Alta, 5 days, for one skier. Add exact dates there. Check each group member’s pass.