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000
FXUS65 KSLC 160450
AFDSLC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
950 PM MST Tue Jan 15 2019

.SYNOPSIS...A series of weather systems will impact the area
through Wednesday, with a more potent system expected Thursday
through Friday.

&&

.SHORT TERM (Through 00z Saturday)...Utah remains under a mean
southwesterly flow aloft this evening. A couple of shortwave
features will continue to impact the area through tomorrow. One of
these disturbances is crossing west-central Utah at this time.
Moisture continues to stream into the area ahead of this wave, but
has shunted farther north and east corresponding to the track of
said shortwave. As such, expect precipitation to trend downward
across much of southern Utah overnight and focus more on north-
central and northeastern portions of the forecast area. The second
shortwave disturbance is currently situated across the Sierra
Nevada. This wave will send a reinforcing shot of precipitation to
mainly northern Utah as it ripples across the area during the day
tomorrow.

Most higher valleys and mountains across southern Utah will continue
to see some accumulating snow through the night, but as mentioned
earlier, precipitation will be winding down so accumulations are
expected to remain minor save for favored southern slopes across the
southern mountains. For the north, the airmass should remain cold
enough for most valleys to see snow as the primary precipitation
type. Generally light accumulations can be expected, but ares across
far northern Utah favored in southwesterly flow may see more
significant snow. This includes the northern Wasatch Front and the
Cache Valley where this snow is expected to impact the morning
commute. As such, a Winter Weather Advisory was issued earlier today
for these areas later tonight through tomorrow morning. Snow will
linger across the northern mountains while diminishing across the
adjacent valleys during the afternoon hours tomorrow.

Updated the forecast for the tonight timeframe, with the most
notable adjustments made to increase PoPs across the north,
especially this evening, as precipitation is already beginning.

Beyond tomorrow, a stronger storm system is still on track to impact
the area Thursday through Friday. A relatively moist airmass will
fuel warm advection southwest flow to bring valley rain and mountain
snow to the area Thursday before the cold front passage brings
lowering snow levels Thursday night into Friday. Significant
accumulations are in store for the mountains. Many valleys will also
see accumulating snow, but amounts may be limited due to high
initial snow levels.

&&

.AVIATION...Occasional snow showers will cross the terminal through
the evening and overnight hours. IFR conditions can be expected
periodically...especially associated with snow showers.  Winds are
expected to be light...becoming more southerly after 09-11Z. Up to 1
inch of accumulation is expected on untreated surfaces through
Wednesday morning.

&&

.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...Winter Storm Watch from Thursday morning through Friday
     afternoon for UTZ007>010.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 2 AM to noon MST Wednesday for
     UTZ001-002.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST Wednesday for
     UTZ517-518.

WY...None.
&&

$$

Cheng/Kruse

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