textproduct: Salt Lake City

KEY MESSAGES, Issued 158 PM MDT Wed Jun 17 2026

- Hot temperatures are expected through Friday before temperatures moderate through the weekend. Conditions remain dry into next week.

- Areas of critical fire weather conditions are expected across southern and eastern Utah today due to a combination of the very dry conditions and breezy northwesterly winds.

- 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.

DISCUSSION, Issued 158 PM MDT Wed Jun 17 2026

Our region remains under the influence of a ridge centered to our west and longwave troughing east of the Rockies. This has yielded increased northwest flow especially across eastern portions of Utah, and when combined with a very dry airmass in place, we can expect critical fire weather conditions to continue through this evening across the area. Warmer, westerly flow across southern Utah will yield quite hot conditions especially across lower Washington County and Lake Powell, with temperatures topping out around 105. Widespread Moderate and locally Major HeatRisk will result from this heat across southern Utah, so those sensitive to heat should take precautions to avoid heat-related illness.

The aforementioned ridge weakens and shifts eastward overhead on Thursday, resulting in lighter winds across the region. However, some breezy winds may continue especially across the central and southern mountains, leading to elevated to more locally critical fire weather conditions.

The brief break in widespread critical fire weather conditions will be short lives as a shortwave trough deepening across the west coast on Friday brings increasing southwesterly flow aloft. This pattern will bring very hot conditions areawide, especially across northern and eastern valley locations where highs will approach 100 degrees. Gusty southwest winds 30-40 mph develop through the afternoon especially across southwest and west-central Utah through Friday afternoon, peaking during the evening hours. Slight improvement in overnight humidity recoveries is expected overnight into Saturday morning across the region, though remain quite poor across portions of central and eastern Utah. The gusty wind threat shifts eastward and eases slightly on Saturday as the shortwave flattens and flow aloft becomes more zonal, though areas of critical fire weather conditions may develop through the afternoon especially across eastern Utah where fuels are critical.

Looking into next week, ridging becomes the dominant feature across the region, resulting in a very dry and hot airmass across the region. As such, expect a gradual warming trend through at least mid-week with very low chances for precipitation across Utah and southwest Wyoming.

AVIATION

KSLC...Inactive weather pattern continues. VFR conditions prevail with skies remaining clear to mostly clear. Expect slightly delayed diurnal wind shift back SE around 07-10Z Thu, but back NW around 14-16Z thereafter. Some modest gusts up to around 20 kts anticipated during the day Wednesday.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...Modestly breezy conditions with gusts 20-30 kts at many area terminals Wednesday, but weather remains benign otherwise with VFR conditions prevailing and skies clear to mostly clear. Winds will begin to relax through the evening, with directions changing near normal diurnal times.

FIRE WEATHER, Issued 158 PM MDT Wed Jun 17 2026

The state remains under the influence of a strong ridge to our west and longwave troughing across the eastern US, allowing for enhanced northwesterly flow aloft today. As such, increased winds are expected across much of southern and eastern Utah with continued very low RH. The ridge shifts overhead Thursday, yielding lighter winds across the region and continued dry conditions, limiting fire weather concerns. The ridge shifts eastward on Friday; concurrently, a low pressure system begins to deepen across the west coast, introducing increased southwesterly winds and mid-level moisture especially across western portions of the state. This pattern may yield areas of critical fire weather conditions through Saturday. Overnight recoveries remain very poor especially across central and southern Utah through at least the weekend given a very dry airmass in place.

SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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

Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for UTZ482-484-488- 489-493-494-496-498.

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

WY...None.