Utahns can expect smoke, heat, cooling temperatures, rain, thunderstorms, wind, hail and maybe even snow in the next couple days — along with the risk of more wildfires and flash flooding.
Air quality is expected to improve, from orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups) on Tuesday to yellow (moderate) on Wednesday in Salt Lake, Cache, Davis, Tooele, Utah and Weber Counties, according to the forecast from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. It’ll be yellow/moderate both Tuesday and Wednesday in Carbon, Duchesne, Iron, Uintah and Washington counties.
(National Weather Service) There will be a red flag warning over much of Utah on Tuesday.
However, smoke will continue to blow into the state from West Coast wildfires, along with some smoke from the Parleys Canyon Fire. And there’s a red flag warning across most of Utah on Tuesday from noon-9 p.m. because of gusty winds, humidity as low as 10% and the danger of lightning. Evacuation orders prompted by the Parleys Canyon Fire will remain in effect through Tuesday because of the danger that the wind will cause the blaze to spread rapidly.
In addition, the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning in effect for central Utah through Tuesday evening, stretching from Utah County to the state’s southern border and extending into parts of southwestern Utah. A slow-moving storm system could produce heavy rain in some areas and cause flooding in slot canyons, dry washes and burn scars.
(National Weather Service) There's a flash flood warning from central to southern Utah in effect on Tuesday.
The rain may switch over to snow at elevations of about 10,000 and higher on Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
Temperatures will drop dramatically on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. It’ll get up into the low to mid-90s in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, but highs on Wednesday and Thursday will be in the low 70s — maybe even the upper 60s.
There’s a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, rising to 70% Tuesday night and Wednesday. The possibility of rain continues Wednesday night (50%), Thursday (50%), Thursday night (30%) and Friday morning (20%).
Patchy smoke is in the forecast for St. George, where temperatures are expected to drop from the low 100s on Tuesday to the low to mid-90s Tuesday-Friday. There’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon; a 40% chance Tuesday night and Wednesday; a 60% chance Wednesday night; and a 20-30% chance Thursday and Thursday night.
