524
FXUS65 KSLC 241134
AFDSLC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
534 AM MDT Mon Aug 24 2026

.KEY MESSAGES, Issued 1151 AM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026...

- There is a Marginal Risk (level 1/4) for excessive rainfall
  across most of the region through early next week.

- Thunderstorms will continue to impact the higher terrain and
  adjacent valleys through Wednesday. Another round of more
  widespread thunderstorms is increasing in likelihood for Friday
  into early next weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION, Issued 1151 AM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026...
Strong to severe convection will develop this
afternoon and evening, with the highest probability of significant
impacts (10% chance of wind gusts in excess of 70 mph) across
northern Utah. A Slight Risk (level 2/5) for severe thunderstorms
has been issued for this area by the Storm Prediction Center.
Looking at the set-up, this morning`s 12Z sounding at KSLC already
showed almost 1000 J/kg MUCAPE but with a fairly stout amount of
convective inhibition. Latest guidance suggests this effective cap
will erode by 20-21Z, allowing for robust convective development
across northern Utah. Mean HREF SBCAPE indicates a broad area of
values near to above around 1000-1500 J/kg across northern Utah
coincident with deep layer shear around 25-30 kts.

Weak surface convergence associated with a shortwave trough
passing to the north may help to organize convection into a
quasi-linear feature, though per typical in terrain, this is
difficult to discern in model fields. The latest few HRRR runs do
show a signature of an organized line of very strong outflow
shifting across the west desert and into the Wasatch Front
between 21Z and 01Z and then continuing to be quite strong into
the Uinta County, WY area by 02-03Z. Peak wind gusts in these runs
have increased to 55kts, but given the very steep lapse rates,
relatively high instability for the Great Basin, modest deep layer
shear and low LCLs, expect storms to be able to attain cold
pool/shear balance. Saturday`s convective outflow peak was 80 mph
near Grassey on I-80...cant rule out a repeat somewhere along this
area of outflow winds this afternoon and evening.

For areas south of I-70, the heavy rain threat continues. While
HREF peak 1 hour rates have decreased over Saturday`s values, net
available moisture has only decreased subtly. Expect any stronger
thunderstorms, especially those tied to terrain features and/or
training, to be capable of rainfall rates in excess of 0.50 inches
per hour. Will need to monitor for flash flood threat across much
of this area...especially for slot canyons, normally dry washes
and recent burn scars.

With the previously mentioned upper level trough passing to the
east Monday, the best chance for strong outflow winds will shift
to mainly the Utah/Idaho border region. Convection will become
increasingly tied to the higher terrain and adjacent valleys
through Wednesday...with only isolated convection expected
Thursday as high pressure brings a drying trend to most
locations.

However...with the tropical eastern Pacific remaining quite
active, at least a portion of ensemble members indicate the next
trough approaching the Pacific Northwest will assist in shifting
remnant tropical moisture into the Great Basin by Friday. This is
something to watch moving forward.





&&

.AVIATION...

KSLC...VFR conditions will persist for the KSLC terminal through the
period. Dry conditions will continue through the early afternoon
before isolated convection develops during the afternoon with ~30%
chance of impacting the terminal. This activity becomes less
convective and more showery overnight. Winds will be light and
diurnally driven aside from variable and gusty winds associated with
precipitation near the terminal.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...VFR conditions will persist for
the entire airspace through the period. A few weak showers continue
across the central airspace this morning, but these will weaken and
dissipate by sunrise. Dry conditions will persist through the early
afternoon before more convection develops across most of the
airspace. This activity will transition to more showery
precipitation across the northern airspace overnight. Winds will
remain light before becoming breezy out of the southwest this
afternoon.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER, Issued 431 AM MDT Mon Aug 24 2026...
High pressure centered over the Four Corners region will
remain fairly stationary throughout the week. Diurnal
thunderstorms will continue through the week with a lull in
activity during the second half of the week as slightly drier air
moves into the region. However, models have trended away from a
more significant drying trend as the high pressure remains more
stationary. This will likely result in isolated convection
centered over the higher terrain Wednesday-Friday.

Southwesterly winds will start to increase towards the end of the
week as an upper level low pressure moves into the PNW. This will
coincide with lower relative humidity to create locally critical
fire weather conditions.

&&

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

$$

PUBLIC...
AVIATION...Mahan
FIRE WEATHER...Mahan

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http://weather.gov/saltlakecity