Whatever the weather, we'll weather the weather, whether we like it or not!

The photo above and below show the weather forecast for November 13, 2014 in a few areas in the northern Utah region. Do these temperatures define the climate of Utah? Find the answer below! 

Many would falsely state that these do define the climate of northern Utah; but Meriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines climate as: “the average course or condition of the weather at a place usually over a period of years as exhibited by temperature, wind velocity, and precipitation.” So if we are using the definition provided, we are able to understand that the above temperature reports in UT today are not an indicator of the climate in the state. According to www.visitutah.com the winter climate of Utah is considered “fair.” They state that winters are mild, and most of the snow is reserved for the mountains. While I was attending Utah State University in 2012 the Logan winters averaged a temperature of -17⁰F, and night fall always brought layers upon layers of snow.  There seems to be a lot of variation in weather in the northern Utah area, so the only way we can truly understand this areas climate we must dig a little deeper. 

Above is a photograph I personally took when I attended Utah State University. This picture was taken on November 9, 2012 during the first snow fall of the 2012 season in Logan Utah.

According to the Western Regional Climate Center we determine the general climate of Utah by first looking at the distance from the equator, then the elevation and finally by the distance from the Oceans or other like bodies of water. If an area is far from the equator the temperatures tend to be low, higher elevation also brings low temperatures, as does long distance from Oceans. Utah is fairly far from the equator, but not far enough to cause extremes in weather. The climate in Utah is fairly mild; the winters are chilly (often reaching 0⁰F) and the summers can reach about 100⁰F. Due to the large Wasatch mountain range running through UT, moist air is forced upwards over the mountains, and often this moist air begins to fall as light precipitation. This rise in moist air causes the state to be fairly dry around the mountains, and a higher level of precipitation can occur within the mountains themselves. 

The area surrounding and inside the Wasatch Mountains will hold the most precipitation, while other areas of Utah are known for their arid climatic properties. 

SOURCES:

http://dachaproject.com/2014/06/info-on-the-next-few-weeks-and-my-new-video-series-introduction/jai-us04387/

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/UTAH.htm

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=88

http://www.visitutah.com/maps-travel-info/weather-climate/

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/climate