textproduct: Salt Lake City

KEY MESSAGES, Issued 139 AM MDT Fri Aug 14 2026

- A flood watch for flash flooding is now in effect through Friday evening for portions of central and southern Utah. Flash flooding is most likely in normally dry washes, slot canyons, slick rock areas, and recent burn scars.

- Much drier conditions will build into the region this weekend into early next week. Elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions will occur across portions of central and southern Utah Tuesday and Wednesday.

DISCUSSION, Issued 1050 PM MDT Thu Aug 13 2026

The forecast area remains sandwiched between an area of high pressure to the east and a broad area of low pressure off to the west, with shortwave energy continuing to lift through the region this evening. The pairing of the shortwave energy and the monsoonal moisture on the western periphery of the ridge continues to support shower and thunderstorm activity across the region, with a rather widespread area of stratiform rain across a portion of northern Utah. Isolated thunderstorms continue to build in west-central and southwest Utah this evening, with isolated to widely scattered storms expected to continue into the early morning hours across this same region. As such, the threat for heavy rainfall and flash flooding will remain somewhat elevated through early Friday morning, with primary concern areas being the Cottonwood burn scar and Widemouth 2 scar.

Moisture remains in place through the day tomorrow with another subtle shortwave trough lifting through the region which will help to bring another round of showers and thunderstorms across the forecast area. As has been the case for the past several days, the increase in atmospheric moisture and instability in place across the region will bring the potential for heavy rainfall and flash flooding with developing thunderstorms if they end up in the wrong place (i.e. burn scars, slot canyons, dry washes, and poor drainage / urbanized areas).

Increasing subsidence in the wake of this shortwave will spread over the region over the weekend, helping to decrease the overall coverage of showers and thunderstorms areawide. That said, moisture will still remain in place and allow for at least isolated showers and thunderstorms to develop over the high terrain features, particularly in southern Utah and in the Uinta Mountains. Coverage of precipitation will decrease further into Monday and Tuesday as mid-level moisture wanes, however, we'll increase chances once again on Wednesday as the northern stream becomes more active.

AVIATION

KSLC...Expect southerly winds to continue at the terminal through the morning, shifting to the northwest around 20-21Z. Another round of showers and thunderstorms will shift north into the terminal area near 00Z, with gusty winds and ceilings around 5000 feet or so. Expect any remnant convection to largely end by 03Z.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...Another round of showers and thunderstorms will develop across central and southern Utah after 18Z, reaching the southern-most portion of the Wasatch Front after 21Z...and then shifting north with time. Activity will wane after 03Z. Very heavy rain, gusty and erratic winds and periods of MVFR conditions will occur with the stronger thunderstorms.

FIRE WEATHER, Issued 139 AM MDT Fri Aug 14 2026

One more day of widespread showers and thunderstorms is expected as this monsoon surge comes to an end. High pressure will shift eastward, with Utah transitioning to a dry southwest to west flow through at least midweek. Minimum humidities will fall to critical levels for most valley locations Sunday into Monday.

A system crossing to the north may bump winds enough on Tuesday and Wednesday to bring elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions to portions of central and southern Utah each afternoon and evening.

SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

UT...Flood Watch through this evening for UTZ116-117-122>129.

WY...None.