textproduct: Salt Lake City

KEY MESSAGES, Issued 950 PM MDT Wed Jun 17 2026

- Hot and dry conditions will continue into Friday before a weak and mostly dry trough brings temperatures within 5F of seasonal normals for the weekend.

- Another round of gusty winds up to 30-40 mph combined with very dry relative humidity values will bring the threat of critical fire weather conditions to western Utah on Friday, potentially into Saturday.

- High pressure will rebuild for early next week, keeping conditions dry with a steady warming trend in temperatures.

DISCUSSION, Issued 950 PM MDT Wed Jun 17 2026

High pressure remains centered off the Pacific coast this evening, with a trough moving over the top of the ridge into the central United States. The presence of that trough kept northwesterly winds breezy over much of the area today, but as it exits and the trough starts moving eastward, winds will relax for Thursday. Temperatures will remain on the hot side, however, with maxes running 5-10F above seasonal normals, with the greatest departure from normal over southern Utah.

For Friday, there is high confidence that the ridge axis will move overhead during the morning and east of the area during the afternoon as a poorly organized trough moves onshore along the Pacific coast. Over northern portions of the area, the influence of the ridge and increasing southwest flow will result in notably warmer temperatures, with maxes running 10F or more above seasonal normals Friday afternoon. In southern Utah, however, temperatures will trend the other way as the influence of the trough advects in some moisture and a less warm airmass. By the afternoon, winds could get breezy enough over western Utah to result in critical fire weather conditions. See the fire weather section of the AFD for more details.

Confidence is high that the center of the weakly defined trough will graze northern Utah Friday night into Saturday, with the primary impact being on temperatures. Highs for the weekend should be within 5F of normal across the area. There is a small chance of showers near the Utah/Idaho border as the trough passes through, but overall guidance is trending a bit farther north with the track of the trough, which would make the low potential of precipitation even lower. As the trough lingers, highs Sunday should be similar to Saturday.

For early next week, guidance is in strong agreement that the Pacific ridge will return and strengthen over the Great Basin. This will bring continued dry weather and steadily warming temperatures.

AVIATION, Issued 950 PM MDT Wed Jun 17 2026

KSLC, Issued 950 PM MDT Wed Jun 17 2026... VFR conditions will persist for the KSLC terminal through the period. Dry and stable conditions with mostly clear skies will continue. Winds will remain light and northerly through ~08Z before transitioning to a light southerly flow overnight. Winds return north during the day tomorrow.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...VFR conditions will persist for the entire airspace through the period. Dry and stable conditions with a few high clouds will continue with relatively light and diurnally driven winds.

FIRE WEATHER

A strong ridge of high pressure remains to our west, influencing the hot, dry, and windy conditions we will continue to experience. This will also result in very low humidities through the period with notably poor recoveries across central and southern UT into the weekend.

On Friday, high pressure slides southeast making way for an incoming system. This system will serve to increase winds across the forecast area with critical fire weather conditions developing across at least west-central and southwest UT. Additionally, dry thunderstorms capable of strong to severe gusts and lightning may develop Friday and Saturday, though this remains somewhat uncertain given inconsistent timing among model guidance.

SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

UT...Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through late Friday night for UTZ492-495.

Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through Friday evening for UTZ497.

WY...None.