Severe thunderstorms possible tonight in northern Utah

SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — It’s been 33 days without precipitation at Salt Lake International Airport, but it’s a dry streak that could come to an end Thursday evening.

The chance for scattered severe storms is on the rise in the West Desert Thursday evening, and with storm motion moving from west to east, we could see strong thunderstorms across the Wasatch Front.

The Storm Prediction Center upgraded our thunderstorm threat to a “slight” risk for the West Desert. With a slight risk, which is a ranking of two on a scale of five, we see scattered storms possible with potential wind damage. Winds will likely gust above 58 mph, and storms could deliver hail up to 2 inches in diameter.

“The last time this happened in the month of July in the West Desert was back in 2013,” said ABC4 Chief Meteorologist Alana Brophy. “Since 1987. We have seen this “slight” risk for this area 26 times in July, but there were years like 1995 and 1996, where this happened often. Overall, this is somewhat uncommon.”

Meanwhile, a “marginal” thunderstorm risk has been issued for the Wasatch Front. This type of elevated thunderstorm risk means isolated severe storms are possible, and we could see wind gusts peak around 50 miles per hour. Hail within the marginal category will likely be close to one inch in diameter. Needless to say, after 33 days without precipitation, strong thunderstorms could impact your evening.

“We are looking at the chance of nocturnal storms as well for parts of the state including Northern, Northeastern and Central Utah,” Brophy said. “As these strong storms track west to east, we will see lightning move through places like Central Utah, Castle Country and the Uinta between 11 p.m. and midnight. The storms already blossomed in the West Desert after 5 p.m. this evening and will impact that area until around 8 p.m. The Wasatch Front should expect the potential of storms between 8 p.m. and midnight.”

This active evening and overnight comes following a busy afternoon with thunderstorms rumbling over southern Utah, prompting flash flood warnings in Kanarraville and Kane County.

One of those warnings was issued for the northern area of Zion National Park. This flash flood warning is in place until 7:45 p.m. Further east, another flash flood warning was issued near the Bull Valley Gorge and Herm Pollock Slot Canyon. That warning is in place until 7:30 p.m.

Storms over southeastern Utah also impacted San Juan County with several flood advisories issued near Cottonwood Creek. Dry washes in the area were reported to see some small stream flooding.

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