textproduct: Salt Lake City

KEY MESSAGES, Issued 1051 AM MDT Sat Jul 25 2026

- Somewhat drier air will move into the area over the weekend, decreasing the threat of showers and thunderstorms. However, moisture is expected to increase again starting Tuesday. - Hot temperatures as high as the lower 100s can be expected for the valleys of northwest Utah as well as the Uinta Basin through Monday, with highs in the upper 100s for portions of southeast Utah, including Zion National Park. Overnight lows will remain in the 70s to around 80, limiting the potential for overnight relief from the heat.

DISCUSSION, Issued 1051 AM MDT Sat Jul 25 2026

High pressure is centered east of the area this morning, over Colorado and Wyoming. A Pacific Northwest trough is making its way over the top of the ridge, flattening that feature as it does so. For us, the primary impact is to add more of a westerly component to the flow over Utah and southwest Wyoming, which is allowing some drier air to filter in. Satellite derived PWs are in the 0.8 to 1.0 inch range across the area. While this is still in the 75th to 90th percentile, this is a notable change from the near 99th percentile values observed over southern Utah yesterday, and this gradual drying trend will continue through the remainder of the weekend. Thus, while afternoon and evening convection is still anticipated, primarily focused over the higher terrain, coverage will be a bit less, and there is a bit more steering flow, which slightly decreases the potential for flooding.

Despite the drying, enough moisture will be around to keep low temperatures elevated. In the valleys, this means that many valley locations will stay in the 70s to around 80 overnight with high temperatures rising above 100F, with the lack of relief contributing to an increased risk for heat related illness. Main change with this forecast package was to add Heat Advisories for Zion National Park, south central Utah, and western Canyonlands, as well as to add an Extreme Heat Warning for Lake Powell, all in effect through Monday like the existing heat headlines for northwest Utah.

By Tuesday, shifting of the ridge is expected to return Utah and southwest Wyoming to a more southerly flow aloft, which would draw monsoon moisture back northward into the area, with increasing confidence that this moisture would then remain in place for most of the remainder of the upcoming week. It looks like that the increasing moisture may moderate high temperatures somewhat for Tuesday into Wednesday, though low temperatures will most likely remain elevated. This should decrease the HeatRisk a bit, but there are some indications temperatures will be on the rise again late in the upcoming week, something to monitor.

AVIATION

KSLC...Northwesterly winds will prevail through the evening. Outflows from thunderstorms moving through northern Utah may impact the terminal this evening, with a 20% chance of gusts greater than 26kt/30mph between 02-05z and which would delay the southerly wind shift until 05-06z. There is a 10% chance showers and thunderstorms will develop at the terminal between 03-06z. Generally light diurnal winds can be expected for Sunday. Expect VFR conditions throughout the TAF period.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...Across southern and central Utah, isolated showers and thunderstorms will continue over and near the higher terrain through around sunset before diminishing, with gusty and erratic winds near the showers. Across northern Utah, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to move across northwest through north-central Utah through late this evening. Strong and gusty outflow winds and small hail will be possible near these showers, with these outflows spreading out well beyond the showers and potentially impacting terminals across the northwestern third of Utah with gusty and erratic winds. VFR conditions will likely prevail, though a heavier shower could produce a temporary VIS reduction.

FIRE WEATHER, Issued 120 PM MDT Sat Jul 25 2026

Drier air will continue to move into Utah through Monday, causing a gradual decrease in coverage of showers and thunderstorms. On Sunday, these storms will likely be limited to southern and eastern Utah as a weak wave passes through. In general, storms this weekend will be capable of producing gusty and erratic outflow winds up to 45 mph, the exception being today across northwest Utah where gusts could exceed 60 mph through the early evening.

With this drier air moving in, portions of western and southern Utah are expected to see minimum relative humidity values near critical values both Sunday and Monday afternoons. While forecast confidence is still fairly low across northern and western Utah, moisture is likely to increase again across the rest of the state beginning Tuesday, with moisture remaining in place for much of the remainder of the upcoming week.

SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

UT...Heat Advisory until midnight MDT Monday night for UTZ101>107-114- 124-128-130.

Extreme Heat Warning until midnight MDT Monday night for UTZ131.

WY...None.