FXUS65 KSLC 051716

AFDSLC



Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT

1116 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026



.KEY MESSAGES, Issued 1029 PM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026...





- An influx of smoke originating from numerous fires across the 

  Pacific Northwest will continue through at least Thursday.



- A gradual warming trend through the latter half of the week

  brings the potential for widespread dangerous heat to develop 

  Friday into Saturday.



- Chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms with microburst

  potential begin as early as Thursday across southwest Utah, with

  the threat becoming more widespread early next week as monsoon

  moisture surges northward.



&&



.DISCUSSION, Issued 1029 PM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026...

Utah and southwest Wyoming are under a dry west to

northwest flow this evening as high pressure rebuilds along the

Pacific coast. High temperatures stayed up to 5F below seasonal

normals over northern portions of the area, while temperatures

stayed abnormally hot over southern Utah. A high of 99F at Cedar

City tied the record high for the date, with some possibility that

other daily records were broken. 



The ridge will continue to build over the next few days, slowly 

shifting east as it does so. By Friday, the ridge is expected to 

be overhead, and highs up to 10F above seasonal normals will be 

common for both Friday and Saturday, bringing the potential of an 

increase in heat related illness. 



The position of the ridge is expected to allow a subtle intrusion

of monsoon moisture into southern Utah, potentially as early as

Thursday. This moisture will allow for the development of a few

high based showers and thunderstorms, primarily focused over the

higher terrain of southern Utah. Any storms that develop will be

capable of producing gusty and erratic downburst winds. 



By Sunday into Monday, there is good agreement in guidance that

the ridge axis will shift east of the area, becoming centered over

the Four Corners. This positioning of the ridge is a typical

scenario for a larger surge of monsoon moisture across the

forecast area. Thus, there will be decreasing temperatures and

increase in the potential for precipitation, with the primary

threat over the area, particularly southern Utah, shifting toward

flash flooding for at least the first part of the upcoming week. 









&&



.AVIATION... 



KSLC...Northwesterly winds will prevail through the afternoon, 

transitioning to southeasterly between 03-04z. VFR conditions will 

mostly persist outside of a window around sunset and sunrise where 

wildfire smoke may produce slantwise VIS reductions down to MVFR for 

an hour or two.



REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...Winds will largely be light and 

terrain-driven, though eastern Utah this afternoon will favor breezy 

westerly winds with gusts to 20-25kts. VFR conditions will largely 

persist with hazy skies, though lingering wildfire smoke could 

produce slantwise VIS reductions down to MVFR across 

central/northern Utah. Sites near local wildfires could see further 

reductions.



&&



.FIRE WEATHER, Issued 454 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026...

Temperatures will continue to increase with

conditions becoming increasingly dry as high pressure continues to

strengthen overhead. Additionally, this will continue to yield 

poor overnight recoveries across portions of northern, central, 

and southeast UT through at least Saturday. A monsoonal push looks

to slowly develop starting tomorrow resulting in scattered showers

and thunderstorms across southern UT. The monsoonal moisture looks

to push further north come Sunday, potentially bringing rainfall

to central and northern UT to start off the week. This will also

help improve overnight recoveries as well as moderate daytime high

temperatures given increasing cloud cover. 



&&



.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

UT...Extreme Heat Warning from noon Friday to midnight MDT Sunday 

     night for UTZ101-102-104-105-115-120-121.



     Heat Advisory from noon Friday to midnight MDT Sunday night for 

     UTZ103-106-107-114-116.



     Heat Advisory from noon Thursday to 9 PM MDT Saturday for UTZ118-

     119-122-126-127.



     Extreme Heat Warning from noon Thursday to 9 PM MDT Saturday for 

     UTZ123-124-128>131.



WY...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for WYZ277.



&&



$$



PUBLIC...Traphagan

AVIATION...Cunningham

FIRE WEATHER...Worster



For more information from NOAA's National Weather Service visit...

http://weather.gov/saltlakecity