National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

• Home
• Site Map
• News
• Organization
• Search for: NWS All NOAA 

000
FXUS65 KSLC 052145
AFDSLC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
345 PM MDT Wed May 5 2021

.SYNOPSIS...High pressure will result in a drying and warming
trend through Thursday. A cold front will move through northern
Utah and southwest Wyoming late Friday, with relatively cool and
unsettled conditions continuing for the upcoming weekend and into
early next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM (Through 12Z Saturday)...High pressure is centered
over the Great Basin, resulting in dry and mild conditions across
the forecast area this afternoon. Maxes are running a few degrees
warmer than yesterday, up to 5F above seasonal normals. The ridge
will continue east, with the axis moving overhead tomorrow. This
will result in more substantial warming, with maxes running up to
15-20F above seasonal normals for many locations across the area
while conditions remain dry.

A Pacific storm system is expected to move onshore along the
California coast Friday morning. Ahead of this system, winds will
pick up over the area, becoming breezy in many locations. The
initial wave with this system will continue to track east during
the day, with the associated front moving across northern and
central Utah Friday evening into Saturday morning, a bit slower
than indicated by previous guidance. As a result, bumped
temperatures up just a bit during the day Friday.

The main impact of the system will be to cool temperatures down
significantly, with maxes Saturday running up to 20F cooler than
Friday`s observed values, with the greatest cooling over northern
portions of the forecast area. Some precipitation is also
possible, particularly Friday night with the passage of the front,
but given the relative lack of moisture the associated
precipitation should be on the light side.

.LONG TERM (After 12Z Saturday)...A broad area of low pressure is
forecast to the north Saturday. There is some uncertainty looking
at cluster analysis regarding the strength of the low but
placement and timing has shown increased confidence. The
uncertainty in the strength of the low generally continues for
Sunday and Monday; though there is perhaps increased confidence in
a deepening trough over the region by Monday. This would increase
the likelihood of rain and snow showers across the region. In
addition, a chance for thunderstorms are noted during the
afternoon and evening hours with modest amounts of instability in
place. Cooler temperatures are forecast under the influence of the
low throughout the weekend and into Monday. Conditions dry out
fairly quickly by Tuesday though some lingering showers remain
possible across northern Utah. Look for increased temperatures by
this period as well while high pressure builds back into the
region.

&&

.AVIATION...KSLC...Light winds are expected predominately out of
the northwest this evening. A shift out of the southeast is
forecast around 05Z, remaining at light speeds with periods of
variable directions possible. Winds forecast to shift back out of
the north tomorrow afternoon, remaining under high pressure with
VFR conditions expected.

Rest of Utah and southwest Wyoming...Generally clear skies and light
winds are anticipated this forecast period under high pressure.
Expect VFR conditions over the next 24 hours.

&&

.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...None.
WY...None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Traphagan
LONG TERM/AVIATION...NDesmet/Woodward

For more information from NOAA`s National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/saltlakecity

For frequently asked questions about the Area Forecast Discussion
visit...
http://weather.gov/saltlakecity/general/afd_faqs.php