textproduct: Salt Lake City

KEY MESSAGES, Issued 940 PM MDT Tue Sep 8 2026

- There is a ~50% chance the western valleys will see wind gusts in excess of 45 mph for 3 or more hours Saturday afternoon into Saturday night ahead of a strong cold front.

- An increased threat of showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy rain is expected Friday into Saturday.

DISCUSSION, Issued 940 PM MDT Tue Sep 8 2026

With upper level ridging across the southeastern and south central United States, an active northern stream with a series of troughs and an upper level low off the Pacific Coast, Utah is set in the middle of these three features Tuesday evening. A deep southwest flow, with strong moisture advection will remain west of the area through at least Thursday. This will keep the Beehive State warm and dry.

By Friday, the upper level low shifts well offshore and a strong upper level trough shifts southwest flow and moisture advection into the Great Basin. This is consistent across the majority of ensemble members, bringing an increased threat of precipitation to the region Friday afternoon into Saturday. Given relatively dry antecedent conditions, any flood threat will be dependent on how quickly the lower levels are able to realize this increased moisture and how strong any potential convection is.

By Saturday evening, a strong cold front associated with the previously mentioned upper level trough will shift into northwestern Utah. Ahead of this front, expect gusty southerly winds, with a ~50% chance western valleys will see wind advisory criteria Saturday afternoon into Saturday night.

A cooler airmass will build in behind this cold front, with highs falling around 10-20 degrees from Saturday's highs Sunday.

AVIATION

KSLC...VFR conditions will prevail over the KSLC terminal through the valid TAF period, with minimal operational concerns. Light south winds with speeds around 5kts will prevail until 16-17Z, when winds will shift to the NNW and increase slightly around 18Z to 5-10kts. Look for the evening return to S drainage flow around the typical 04Z-05Z timeframe.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...VFR conditions will prevail across the region through the valid TAF period. A vast majority of terminals are expected to see light, diurnally driven winds through the overnight period, with speeds of generally 6kts or less. The primary exception will be in the western Uinta Basin and SW Wyoming where winds of up to 10 to 15kts will be possible from the west during the afternoon and early evening hours.

FIRE WEATHER, Issued 246 AM MDT Wed Sep 9 2026

Dry and warm conditions will persist through much of the week due to westerly winds aloft. This will keep minimum relative humidity in the teens and upper single digits for much of the area through much of the week, with pockets of near-crtitical fire weather conditions across portions of the Uinta Basin and Swell through Thursday. Moisture starts to increase across central and southern Utah on Friday and Saturday, along with the potential for some shower and thunderstorm activity. There is lingering uncertainty regarding the timing and extent of this potential activity. Confidence continues to increase in the presence of a strong cold front that will increase southwesterly winds on Saturday with gusts 30-45 mph expected, particularly across western portions of Utah. This will result in locally critical fire weather conditions as min RH will remain in the teens across locations near the Nevada border. This cold front will move through late Saturday/early Sunday with winds weakening behind the front Sunday across all but eastern Utah, with lighter winds statewide by Monday. Temperatures will fall 10-20 degrees between Saturday and Sunday for all but extreme southern and southeast Utah.

SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

UT...None. WY...Fire Weather Watch from noon MDT today through this evening for WYZ277.