Significantly Cooler Temperatures on the Way for the Western U.S.

There will be a hint of winter in the air for much of the western U.S. as the temperatures take a dive this week. Some of the higher elevations may even see snow out of this weather maker. Here is a look at what you can expect this week throughout the West.

Fall Heat to be Erased in the Coming Days for the West

It was an unseasonably warm weekend for a large part of the western U.S. but a change is in the air. The mercury is going to dive over 30 degrees in some places as the last of the summer heat is erased by a mass of significantly cooler air.

Much of this part of the country has seen temperatures hover roughly 4 to 8 degrees over the historical norm over the last few weeks. The heat was the biggest departure from normal readings for the interior portions of the West, including major metropolitan areas such as Salt Lake City and Denver. While there have been a few fast-moving surges of fall-like weather for the region, it has still felt like summer for many communities.

The first extended period of definitive fall weather will hit the West by the middle of this week. Some areas will see the temperatures drop by up to 30 degrees in a period from Wednesday to Friday.

The Pacific Northwest will be the first part of the region to see the arrival of the cooler air. Seattle enjoyed temperatures well in the 70s last weekend with readings still remaining firmly planted in the 60s to start the new work week. The Emerald City is forecast to top out with highs in the 50s.

It will be a similar situation in Portland with temperatures dropping from the low 70s early in the week to the 60s on Tuesday and Wednesday and highs in the 50s by Thursday. Both of these metro areas should also expect to see intermittent rain showers throughout the week, wiping away the stretch of dry days as of late. Some of the rain may even mix with snow at times across the passes in Washington state and down into Oregon.

Moving farther inland, Salt Lake City will see the temperatures drop noticeably on Wednesday night and into Friday. The city at the base of the Wasatch Mountains is predicted to see a high of 81 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday's highs will top out at 57 degrees while the mercury will struggle to climb out of the upper 40s for a high on Friday. Real feel readings will be even frostier when the wind starts blowing. Rain will fire up on Thursday, making it feel even chillier.

The top peaks of the Colorado Rockies, the Tetons, and the Wasatch ranges will see the chance of snow later in the week. A few inches of snow is possible for some of the ski resorts in the Wasatch Range. Some of the flurries may reach as far south as northern Arizona.

Overnight lows will slip well below the freezing threshold at night in areas where the snow falls. This will translate to the possibility of slippery roads and sidewalks. The gusty winds in the forecast for the top terrains will bring real feel readings down into the 20s and teens, signaling that winter is on its way.