textproduct: Salt Lake City

KEY MESSAGES

- Widespread freezing temperatures will develop again by early Saturday morning, potentially damaging early season agriculture.

- A warming trend will return this weekend, with temperatures rising to 10-15 degrees above normal by Tuesday,

DISCUSSION

In the wake of yesterday's winter-like storm, low clouds can be seen lingering over and adjacent to higher terrain late this morning, with clear skies elsewhere. As subsidence continues to strengthen across the region, skies are likely to full clear by this evening, resulting in efficient radiative cooling despite warming temperatures aloft. Similar to last night, expect low temperatures to be near or below freezing across most valleys. Fog is unlikely given such a dry air mass and shorter nights, though with recent precipitation in valleys, it cannot be ruled out completely (~10% chance in prone areas).

Temperatures will continue to warm under clear skies through the weekend, reaching 10-15 degrees above normal by Monday. This translates to highs in the low-70s along the Wasatch Front and mid-80s down in St. George. However, a new trend in model guidance suggests a weak shortwave trough drawing mid-level moisture northward into southern Utah on Monday, producing chances for scattered showers and even isolated thunderstorms over higher terrain. More active weather is likely to return Wednesday with a grazing trough and potentially a stronger system arriving later in the week. While there is still low forecast confidence, initial model guidance looks fairly wet, particularly later in the week, and although temperatures look cooler, it's unlikely that temperatures will be as cold as the past day or so.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING

Moisture wrapping around departing system is helping yield some SCT to BKN VFR cloud cover at northern terminals, and is generally reinforcing northerly winds areawide. Cloud cover will diminish through the evening, with winds relaxing, and at many terminals directions shifting to diurnally normal. At more southern terminals, a northerly component remains more favored, and at SGU periods of gusty down-canyon NE winds will likely continue into the overnight.

SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

UT...Freeze Warning from 8 PM this evening to 9 AM MDT Saturday for UTZ102>106-121-130.

WY...None.