Dry conditions elevate fire risk in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — Happy Sunday, Utah! We’re closing out the weekend on a gorgeous note with temperatures cooling back to seasonal norms and sunny skies. Daytime highs will run in the low 90s for most with 80s in higher elevations and the low 100s down in St. George and Lake Powell.

High pressure is building back over the west which will keep things dry, but not allow for much atmospheric mixing to clear out the wildfire smoke. Southerly winds will drag more smoke from fires in southern California and Utah, blanketing valleys in haze. The air quality is in the moderate category for most areas today, but the Wasatch Front from Ogden to Provo will be in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” zone. Smoke will likely make itself at home for the next few days until we see a change in the weather pattern.

Unfortunately, there is an elevated fire threat for a large portion of southern, central, and northeastern Utah. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for these areas through Monday at 10 p.m., or 8 p.m. for counties bordering the Colorado border. Winds are backing off a bit from yesterday but haven’t fizzled out yet. Expect sustained winds of 10-20 mph and gusts up to 30 mph out of the southwest, peaking in the daytime hours. The relative humidity is very low, dropping to 6-15% at times. This can fan the flames of existing fires and new fires can spread very quickly, which may contribute to localized smoke and poor air quality.

The weather pattern stays fairly consistent for the first half of the week, but as high pressure begins sliding toward the Four Corners region that’ll change. Moisture could trickle back into the state navigating around the edge of the high pressure system. Temperatures will begin rising again, eventually back into the triple-digits for the north.

The bottom line? Dry air with seasonal temperatures is in store and fire alerts are in place.

We’ll keep you posted on the latest updates in our 4Warn Weather forecast both on-air and online, we are Good4Utah!

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