169
FXUS65 KSLC 300849
AFDSLC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
249 AM MDT Tue Jun 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES, Issued 1006 PM MDT Mon Jun 29 2026...


- Gusty winds and very low RH will bring another round of critical
  fire weather conditions across eastern Utah Tuesday, including
  the San Rafael Swell, Western Canyonlands, and Henry Mountains
  regions.

- Spring-like temperatures will gradually warm to near normal
  later this week.

- Southwesterly winds will strengthen during the latter portion of
  the week. These combined with warming temperatures and very low
  RH will likely bring Critical Fire Weather conditions over a
  good portion of central and southern Utah Thursday and Friday.

&&

.DISCUSSION, Issued 1006 PM MDT Mon Jun 29 2026...


An unusually cool and stable airmass for late June remains settled
across northern, central and southwest Utah this evening.
Valley temperatures across these areas remained in the low-mid 70s
this afternoon...15 or more degrees below normal for June 29th.
The surface front associated with this cool airmass extends
across southeast and east central Utah, with warmer temperatures
and very low RH remaining in place across the southeast CWA.

A longwave trough resides across much of the western CONUS at the
present time, and will remain in place through much of the week. A
well defined shortwave trough currently digging along the Sierra
Crest will eject across the forecast area on Tuesday. This
moisture starved wave will bring only a small chance for showers
across the northern mountains, but will enhance southwesterly
winds across east central and southeast Utah during the afternoon,
and a Red Flag Warning is in effect for these areas. Despite the
wave lifting through, the modifying airmass will allow
temperatures to trend several degrees warmer across northern,
central and southwest Utah Tuesday afternoon.

The longwave trough axis will remain west of the forecast area
through Thursday, before lifting out of the region Friday. Rising
heights and a gradually warming airmass will allow temperatures to
continue slowly trending warmer, reaching normal for early July by
Thursday across the north, and Friday across the southwest.
Increasing southwest flow again Thursday and Friday ahead of this
lifting trough will again result in critical fire weather
conditions over portions of central and southern Utah.


&&

.AVIATION, Issued 1006 PM MDT Mon Jun 29 2026...


KSLC...VFR conditions are forecast to persist at the terminal
through the TAF period. Mostly clear skies give way to increasing
mid-to-high level cloud coverage with a low-end (10-15%) chance for
isolated rain showers early Tuesday afternoon before clearing out
through the evening. Light, diurnal winds persist with southeasterly
winds overnight switching northwesterly after around 15z.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...VFR conditions continue for all
regional terminals. Clear skies across the airspace persist through
late Tuesday morning before mid-to-high level cloud coverage
increases through the early afternoon. Some rain showers develop
along and east of the Wasatch during the afternoon, but otherwise
conditions remain dry areawide. Winds remain generally light with
typical diurnal shifts.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...As yet another disturbance crosses Utah today,
southwesterly winds will increase across portions of eastern
Utah. These gusty winds will combine with very dry conditions to
bring critical fire weather conditions to the San Rafael Swell and
Henry Mountains areas. Elevated to locally critical conditions
will occur across the western Uinta Basin and the Grand Staircase
as well.

Another disturbance will approach the region Wednesday. Southwest
flow looks to be a little lighter Wednesday afternoon and evening
across eastern Utah, but trends will need to be monitored for a
potential expansion of the Red Flag Warning for the Swell and
Henrys into Wednesday. Southwest flow will increase Thursday,
bringing an increased threat of critical fire weather conditions
to eastern Utah, spreading to the remainder of central and
southern Utah Friday.

The extended forecast is largely dry, with some potential
development of the monsoon toward the second week in July.

&&

.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...Red Flag Warning from noon today to 9 PM MDT this evening for
     UTZ489-494.

WY...None.
&&

$$

PUBLIC...Seaman
AVIATION...Whitlam
FIRE WEATHER...Kruse

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