textproduct: Salt Lake City

KEY MESSAGES, Issued 1047 PM MDT Sun Aug 16 2026

- A warming trend will continue through the week.

- Elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions will occur across central and southern Utah Tuesday with enhanced southwesterly winds coupled with low humidity.

- Moisture increases late in the weekend and into the weekend.

DISCUSSION, Issued 1107 AM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026

Hot and dry conditions will largely persist through mid-week as Utah remains on the western periphery of a broad ridge across the southern US. This evening, a very weak wave grazing our area will result in scattered showers across northern Utah and southwest Wyoming, likely persisting through the overnight hours and leading to periods of squirrelly, breezy winds. Another weak shortwave trough crossing through MT/ID on Tuesday will draw a bit more moisture northward into eastern Utah and thus produce scattered afternoon thunderstorms capable of producing outflow winds up to 40 mph. Southwesterly flow will also increase slightly, resulting in locally critical fire weather conditions. Isolated thunderstorms will redevelop Wednesday and Thursday afternoons over higher terrain with daytime heating and modest moisture sticking around.

Following the passage of the shortwave trough, high pressure will begin to strengthen first overhead, then shift eastward by Friday with the ridge axis lingering over the Four Corners heading into the weekend. This is a favorable setup for monsoonal moisture to be advected northward into Utah, therefore increasing chances for thunderstorms and flash flooding beginning Friday and extending likely through the weekend.

AVIATION, Issued 1128 AM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026

KSLC...Potential for a slow and delayed wind shift at terminal around 19-21Z Monday. Skies remain mostly clear to partly cloudy with bases generally above 10 kft. Winds to shift back SE around 04Z Tuesday. A passing system overnight will bring a low (20-30%) chance of showers and modest gusts between around 06-12Z Tuesday.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...Terminals to see diurnally normal wind shifts and fairly light magnitudes (generally less than 10 kts). Some higher elevation and more exposed terminals may see occasional gusts to around 20 kts or so. Skies remain mostly clear to partly cloudy and VFR. At northern terminals, a passing system will bring a 20-30% chance of some shower activity between 06-12Z Tuesday. A few modest gusts may also accompany any such showers.

FIRE WEATHER

A weak disturbance grazing to the north this evening will result in scattered showers and a few lightning strikes across northern Utah overnight. These showers may be capable of producing gusty outflow winds in excess of 30 mph. Isolated thunderstorms will develop Tuesday afternoon, primarily across eastern Utah and higher terrain in central Utah. Similar to tonight, these showers will also be capable of gusty winds potentially up to 40-45 mph. Additionally, southwesterly winds will increase slightly on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, resulting in elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions. Conditions will become hotter and drier through the remainder of the work week, with critical RH across lower elevations. By Friday, monsoon moisture will return, producing higher humidities and chances for wetting rains.

SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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