Above average highs stay in Utah but a cool down could be on the horizon
SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) – Happy Monday, Utah! Today's temperatures will be similar to what we saw yesterday with highs about 10 to 15 degrees above seasonal norms. Most places will top out in the low to mid 80s with 70s in the cooler spots and upper 90s in lower Washington County.
The bottom line? Temperatures stay 10 to 15 degrees above seasonal norms through the workweek, but a change could be on the horizon.
Temperatures will be within reach of daily record highs with many southern Utah cities forecasted to be within a degree or two of records. The north will be within five degrees or so of their records.
While temperatures will be similar to yesterday's, conditions will be a little cloudier. The high pressure responsible for the clear skies is shifting east, opening the door for Pacific moisture to fill in. There isn't too much moisture with this push, so valleys won't see precipitation, but at least there'll be some shade.
Meanwhile, mountainous terrain could see some afternoon showers on Monday and Tuesday. Gusty erratic outflow winds from the showers could fan the flames of existing fires, particularly the Yellow Lake Fire in Wasatch County which was already over 15,000 acres as of Sunday. Smoke from the fire will be thicker in the Uinta Basin, but much of eastern Utah will see hazy skies and reduced air quality.
High pressure centers itself over the Beehive State again by Wednesday which will push out the clouds and start the warming trend again. The hottest day for northern Utah will be Thursday with highs potentially reaching the upper 80s along the Wasatch Front. We'll also see a statewide uptick in cloud cover again on Thursday and Friday with mostly cloudy skies in store, but they will likely be the thinner high-altitude clouds that the sun can still shine through.
The weekend forecast is still a little tricky. We could either see a dramatic tank in temperatures and a few rain showers in valleys or we'll see the state continue to stay above average with a minor dip in temperatures and partly cloudy skies.
The setup is such that even a slight shift in the systems could completely throw off the forecast. As of right now, it seems we'll have a modest dip in temperatures with partly cloudy skies and showers for the northern mountains. We'll see how it plays out as we get closer!
Of course, we'll keep you posted on the latest changes in our 4Warn Weather forecast both on-air and online, we are Good4Utah!
