Scattered showers and thunderstorms on deck with building heat
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – Happy Friday, Utah! Mother Nature is ushering in the high heat and the chance of strong storms for parts of the Beehive State. Temperatures across the state remain five to 10 degrees above normal with upper 80s and low 90s for northern Utah, and 90s and triple-digit heat for southern Utah.
An area of high pressure has pushed closer to Utah from the east today and that brings a more widespread risk of thunderstorms.
Bottom Line? Increasing thunderstorm threat with flash flood concerns for central, eastern, and southern Utah with above average temperatures for the Wasatch Front.
This surge of monsoon moisture is being brought northward from the Gulf of Mexico around this ridge of high pressure inching moisture closer to the Beehive State. This will allow for additional subtropical moisture caught up in our southwest flow, to move into the state generating a wider swath of showers and thunderstorms for Friday.
This influx in moisture could impact parts of I-15, with most of the energy focused east of I-15 and leads to elevated flash flood risks for slot canyons and burn scars.
Friday’s thunderstorms could bring damaging winds, hail, and heavy rainfall that could cause flash flooding. With the terrain in eastern Utah prone to flash flooding with little to no warning, the National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for a large portion of the state. It encompasses Castle Country, San Rafael Swell, Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs, Capitol Reef, Glen Canyon/Lake Powell, South-Central Utah, and the Western Canyonlands. The Flood Watch is in effect on Friday from noon to 9 p.m.
The risk for flash flooding today has also been upgraded for all popular areas in the Southeast part of the state to “probable”, with Zion and Bryce Canyon in the “possible” category. This area includes the National Parks, Grand Staircase, Lake Powell, and the San Rafael Swell.
The most vulnerable areas include slot canyons, recent burn scars, normally dry washes, and slickrock. You might want to reconsider your plans if you’re planning outdoor activities, especially along or east of I-15. Flash flood watches have been issued for these areas Friday afternoon and evening; Castle Country, San Rafael Swell, Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs, Capitol Reef National Park and Vicinity, Glen Canyon Recreation Area/Lake Powell, South Central Utah and Western Canyonlands. The forecast of heavy rains Friday afternoon poses a risk of flash flooding. For areas west of I-15, temperatures will soar, reaching five to 15 degrees above normal, especially in northern Utah.
Moisture should clear out into the weekend and high pressure will build back and strengthen for the latter half of the weekend, allowing temperatures to spike once again. Northern Utah could see temperatures 10-15 degrees above normal. Salt Lake City might hit 100 degrees on Sunday, and flirt with the record of 101 degrees set in 2012.
Northern Utah will stay mostly dry with only a slight chance of a storm, but southern Utah will see lingering moisture, bringing chances of showers and thunderstorms through Monday east of I-15, increasing the risk of flash flooding. Triple-digit heat is forecast for the next seven days in Southern Utah, and temperatures along the Wasatch remain above average for the long-range as well.
The 4Warn Weather Team will continue to monitor conditions and keep you posted on changing conditions both on our 4Warn Weather app as well as on-air and online, we are Good4Utah!
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