721
FXUS65 KSLC 300406
AFDSLC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1006 PM MDT Mon Jun 29 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- 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...

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...

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, Issued 139 PM MDT Mon Jun 29 2026...

After a lull in winds and increased humidity today (along with
cooler temperatures), a trailing wave will move through the Great
Basin tomorrow which will elevate winds again. Southwesterly winds
will increase across eastern Utah tomorrow, but temperatures will
remain ~5-10 degrees below normal. These winds will pair with low
relative humidity to create critical fire weather conditions
across the San Rafael Swell and Henry Mountains. Critical fire
conditions will be limited across the western Uinta Basin thanks
to increased moisture and some afternoon convection across the
Uinta Mountains. Afternoon wind gusts will be in the 25-30 mph
range with min RH in the upper single digits to low teens.

Winds will subside on Wednesday while RH remains low before
another tightening of the pressure gradient increases winds again
for Thursday and Friday across much of the region. Wind gust
magnitudes for the end of the week currently range from 25-35 mph.

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

WY...None.
&&

$$

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

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