textproduct: Salt Lake City

KEY MESSAGES

- High pressure will bring increasingly hot and dry conditions to the region this weekend, with temperatures approaching records by Monday.

- Underscoring how dry it is, there is less than a 5% chance of measurable precipitation for most locations Friday through Wednesday (and likely beyond).

- As early as Saturday, localized critical fire weather conditions will occur across portions of southwestern and south central Utah. By Sunday into Monday, single digit humidities with poor overnight recoveries are expected.

DISCUSSION

Broad upper level ridging continues to shift into the coastal Pacific states this morning. North to northwest flow remains over Utah...with another shortwave trough rotating through the region tonight into Thursday. This will bring an area of weakly forced sprinkles, with the potential for a few hundredths for far northern Utah tonight into Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, one last night of temperatures at or below freezing is expected for the western Uinta Basin and the Sanpete Valley. Freeze Warnings remain in effect. This should be the last freeze- related warning for awhile...as high pressure builds into the West.

High pressure will shift into the region through the weekend, though the warming trend will briefly halt by a few degrees Saturday. Short-lived though as temperatures approach the warmest of the year so far by Sunday.

With a 590+dam high centered over Arizona Sunday into Monday, temperatures will surge to near record levels as early as Monday. HeatRisk will creep into the moderate/orange category for the low desert areas of southern Utah including the Zion Canyon, lower Washington County, portions of the Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and western Canyonlands. While this means a greater threat of heat related illness to those who are sensitive to heat, especially without cooling/hydration (such as outdoor recreationalists and campers), even those who are normally prone to heat stress should follow proper heat safety precautions as we emerge into more summer-like conditions this weekend into early next week. Carry plenty of water, consider hiking/outdoor recreation outside of peak heating and remember temperatures on rock including slick rock will be significantly higher than the air temperatures.

With fuels trending toward critical across portions of southern Utah, localized critical fire weather conditions will begin as early as Saturday across portions of southern Utah. See the fire weather discussion for more information.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING

Clearing behind an exiting storm is expected areawide today, with the scattered cloud cover currently over the southern half of the airspace diminishing through this afternoon. Overall VFR conditions will prevail through the period. Expect enhanced post-frontal northerly breezes through this evening for all regional terminals, except southwest Utah terminals that will see gusts persist into the overnight hours. Otherwise, lighter, diurnally driven winds are expected areawide by Thursday morning.

FIRE WEATHER

As high pressure builds across the Great Basin, expect relative humidities to fall below 15 percent across much of the state by Friday. Localized critical fire weather conditions will occur in gusty northwest winds Saturday across portions of southwestern Utah. By Sunday, strong high pressure will shift into the Desert Southwest, bringing single digit daytime humidities for much of the state with increasingly poor overnight recoveries through at least Wednesday.

SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

UT...Freeze Warning from 9 PM this evening to 9 AM MDT Thursday for UTZ114-118.

WY...None.