textproduct: Salt Lake City

KEY MESSAGES, Issued 1006 PM MDT Wed Jul 22 2026

- Drier air moves in tomorrow, limiting chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

- Southerly flow redeveloping Friday will allow monsoonal moisture to gradually fill back in through the weekend, with an attendant flash flood returning as a result.

- Heat concerns return to Utah starting this Friday, lasting through at least Monday as temperatures rise across the region with anomalously warm overnight temperatures offering little relief.

DISCUSSION, Issued 1006 PM MDT Wed Jul 22 2026

Convective activity is waning across the region tonight as drier air works into the region under increasing west- northwesterly flow aloft courtesy of a passing mid-level trough to our north. This drier air will persist into Thursday, with PWATs dipping to the 0.7-0.9" range across most of the region except far southern Utah. As a result, more limited convective activity is expected Thursday afternoon and evening across much of the region. Coverage will be more isolated in nature, and mainly favored across far southern Utah and portions of eastern Utah.

This drier airmass will be short lived as the trough quickly ejects into the Central Plains on Friday, leaving Utah and southwest Wyoming back under a broad ridging pattern. As such, a modest influx of monsoonal moisture spreads back into the forecast area on Friday, yielding more widespread showers and thunderstorms mainly across central and southern Utah. These areas will see a heightened flash flood risk return as a result, with WPC highlighting areas generally east of I-15 and south of I-70 for a Marginal Risk (level 1/4) for excessive rainfall. The broad ridge gradually shifts back eastward through the weekend into early next week, resulting in continued monsoonal moisture transport through this period that will bring continued chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms capable of producing flash flooding each day.

In addition to a return to wetter conditions, this pattern will bring an increase in temperatures especially across northern Utah Friday into the weekend. Daytime highs soar back to the century mark for many locations across the Wasatch Front, with overnight lows in the mid to upper 70s offering very little relief. As such, widespread Major HeatRisk emerges through this period, indicating an elevated threat for heat illness especially for those without adequate cooling and hydration. If outdoors for festivities this weekend, make sure to stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade or air conditioning often.

AVIATION, Issued 1238 AM MDT Thu Jul 23 2026

KSLC...Southeasterly winds will continue through the overnight hours, transitioning to northwesterly between 17-19z. VFR conditions will prevail with largely quiescent conditions, though there is a low (15% chance) of showers developing in the vicinity this afternoon between 19-23z.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...Winds overnight will be largely light and terrain-driven. A few showers in southwest Utah west of I- 15 are slowly weakening and although may reach KCDC (20% chance) before 09z, they are unlikely to be impactful. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop after 18z, but will be much lower coverage than yesterday, limited to two main areas: south of I-70 and a portion of northeastern Utah largely east of KHCR and along and north of KPUC.

FIRE WEATHER

Coverage of showers and thunderstorms will be lower today, primarily limited to the southern third and eastern third of Utah and first forming over higher terrain in the early afternoon. Storms will be capable of producing gusty and erratic winds up to 40 mph today and 50 mph on Friday, in addition to moderate-heavy rain and lightning. Despite drying across the north today, moisture will return Friday, resulting in widely scattered showers and thunderstorms across the entire state Friday-Sunday afternoons at least. RH will be a bit drier than prior days, becoming near-critical during the afternoon across many valleys, with marginal overnight recoveries (35-50% for those same valleys).

SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

UT...None. WY...None.