Honestly, if you're standing outside in downtown Salt Lake right now, you probably don't need a thermometer to tell you it's crisp. As of midday this Sunday, January 18, 2026, the temperature in Salt Lake City Utah is 42°F.
It’s sunny. Like, remarkably sunny for a mid-January weekend. But there’s a catch that locals know all too well. While the sky looks like a postcard, the air feels a bit heavy. That’s because we are currently stuck in a classic Utah inversion.
The inversion reality check
Right now, the high for today is expected to hit 45°F, which sounds almost balmy for January. The historical average high for this time of year is usually closer to 37°F or 39°F. So, yeah, we're technically running "warm." But that "warm" air is actually sitting on top of us like a lid on a pot, trapping the cold air and, unfortunately, the valley's pollution right at street level.
If you look up toward the Wasatch Range, the peaks might look clearer than the streets. That’s because the temperature actually gets warmer as you go up in elevation during an inversion—the exact opposite of how physics usually works.
What to expect for the rest of the week
If you're planning your week or just trying to figure out if you need the heavy parka for the Monday commute, here is the breakdown.
Monday, January 19, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is looking pretty similar to today. Expect a high of 42°F and a low of 23°F. It’ll stay sunny, but the haze is likely to stick around.
By Tuesday, we might see things shift slightly. The high should creep up to 46°F. The National Weather Service is actually noting "widespread haze" starting Tuesday, so don't expect those mountain views to get any better just yet.
Here is how the numbers are stacking up for the coming days:
- Wednesday: High of 45°F, Low of 28°F. Mostly cloudy.
- Thursday: High of 45°F, Low of 31°F. Still cloudy, still hazy.
- Friday: This is when the weather finally breaks. We’re looking at a 20% chance of snow/rain during the day, jumping to a 65% chance of snow at night. High of 44°F.
Why the air feels "thick"
You’ve probably noticed the air quality alerts if you’ve checked your phone today. Earlier this week, Salt Lake actually topped the charts for the worst air quality in the country. It’s a weird paradox: the "temperature in Salt Lake City Utah" can be a pleasant 45 degrees, but you might still want to stay indoors because the AQI (Air Quality Index) is in the "unhealthy" range.
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality has had mandatory "no-burn" restrictions in place. Basically, don't light your fireplace or fire pit. About 50% of this winter crust comes from our tailpipes, so the city is pushing for everyone to use Trax or the FrontRunner if they can.
Looking at the big picture
Is this a normal January? Kinda, but also not really.
Our snowpack is currently sitting at about 64% of what’s considered "normal." We had a massive dump of snow on New Year's Day—Alta and Brighton got over a foot—but since then, it's been pretty dry.
Experts like Ben Abbott from BYU have been pointing out that we can't really "gamble" on a huge winter to save the Great Salt Lake every year. While 2023 was a record-breaker that raised the lake levels by five feet, 2026 is looking a bit more stubborn. We need these storms predicted for Friday and Saturday to actually hit hard if we want to keep that snowpack healthy.
Practical tips for the current SLC weather
If you’re heading out, dress in layers. 42°F in the sun feels great, but the second you step into the shadow of a building or the sun starts to dip toward the Oquirrh Mountains, that 25°F low starts to bite.
- Check the AQI before you jog: If the haze is thick, stick to the gym.
- Layer up: A light puffer over a fleece is usually the "SLC Uniform" for a day like today.
- Watch the Friday forecast: If you're heading up the canyons (Big or Little Cottonwood), Friday night is when the roads will get messy. Traction laws will almost certainly be in effect.
- Keep the windows shut: It might be tempting to "air out" the house on a sunny day, but with the inversion, you’re just letting the smog in.
The current weather pattern is stable, stagnant, and honestly a bit predictable for a Salt Lake winter. We're all just waiting for that Friday storm to blow the "lid" off the valley and let us breathe again.
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Next Steps:
Keep an eye on the Friday evening transition. The shift from a high of 44°F to a 65% chance of snow means the Friday evening commute could turn from wet to icy very quickly. Check the UDOT traffic app before heading out toward the mountains for the weekend.