Salt Lake City is experiencing an unusually warm December, marking its second-warmest on record. This month, the Salt Lake Valley has recorded three of its hottest December days, prompting residents to forgo winter coats even on Christmas Day. On December 9, a high of 67 degrees was reached, and on December 10, the temperature peaked at 61 degrees, surpassing the previous record of 59 degrees set in 1933. Additionally, December 17 saw another high of 67 degrees, establishing a new record for the month. Meteorologist Alex DeSmet from the National Weather Service noted that these temperatures tie for the second-warmest December and winter temperature ever recorded in Salt Lake City. The minimum temperature recorded on December 9 was 59 degrees, which broke the previous record for the warmest overnight winter temperature by a significant 7 degrees. The likelihood of a traditional snowy Christmas Day in the Salt Lake Valley is nearly zero. However, weather forecasts predict 6 to 12 inches of snow in mountain areas above 8,500 feet from Wednesday to Thursday night. Furthermore, the National Weather Service anticipates high winds with gusts up to 50 miles per hour in western Utah and Tooele Valley from Wednesday night through Friday night, which may disrupt holiday travel due to dust being blown around. Despite the current warm temperatures, DeSmet indicated that record-breaking temperatures are expected to stabilize by Friday. The state’s ski resorts have reported slow starts to the season, with skiers encountering soft, spring-like snow. Tourists hoping for ideal skiing conditions have expressed disappointment due to the lack of snow. Concerns regarding drought levels are rising, as roughly 95% of Utah's water supply is derived from snowpack. This worry is exacerbated by a dry summer that has left managers of the Great Salt Lake hoping for a robust winter. However, DeSmet reassured that there is still plenty of winter remaining, allowing for potential snowpack accumulation until April, which is the typical season timeframe. The National Weather Service forecasts that temperatures will likely remain above normal for the remainder of the winter, but this does not guarantee a corresponding increase in snowpack.