Terrain Influences on Precipitation in the Intermountain West as Related to Synoptic Situations

Abstract

Precipitation in the Wasatch Front area of northwest Utah was analyzed with regard to different storm types. It was found that precipitation associated with ?cold lows? aloft was relatively greater at valley than at mountain stations when compared with cold or warm frontal precipitation. Also the precipitation profile across the mountain range differed with ?cold low? and ?non-cold low? type storms. The probable causes of these differences are discussed.