4Warn Weather: Warm weekend ahead, increasing storm chances with a hint of fall

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Happy Friday, Utah! It’s a quiet start to the day with high pressure overhead bringing mainly clear skies and light winds.

So, what’s the bottom line? A warm weekend ahead for the Beehive State with increasing storm chances and a hint of Fall

Overall, we’re looking at a dry, warm day with temperatures around 5° above normal. Smoke and haze are still visible this afternoon but has thinned out quite a bit from Thursday.

By tonight, the high pressure will shift eastward, settling over the Four Corners region by Saturday morning. This change will cause the winds to shift to a southwest direction, bringing moisture northward. Since it’s been so dry, the moisture will mostly stay high in the atmosphere, with a few storms possibly forming over the higher terrain in southern Utah by Saturday afternoon.

With continued warming, especially in northern Utah, temperatures could rise to about 10° above normal in some areas, including parts of the Wasatch Front. Plan on highs in the low 90s over the weekend, mid 80s are average for this time of year.

The early part of the week will bring afternoon showers and thunderstorms across much of the area, especially on Sunday and Monday. The main concern will be gusty winds from microbursts due to the dry conditions, and there’s also a slight risk of flash floods, particularly on Monday. Temperatures will stay just above normal.

Later in the week, a trough is likely to develop across the western U.S., bringing cooler temperatures and a higher chance of showers and thunderstorms, especially in the north. This might be our first hint of fall.

We’ll also need to watch for the potential of strong southwesterly winds ahead of this system, particularly in the western valleys, where critical fire weather could be a big concern.

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