FXUS65 KSLC 201643

AFDSLC



Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT

1043 AM MDT Fri Mar 20 2026



.KEY MESSAGES...



- High pressure will continue to bring historically warm weather

  for March through Saturday. Daytime maximum temperatures will

  challenge monthly records.



- A dry cold front will bring a brief cooling trend Sunday to the

  northern half of Utah, though daytime highs will remain 10 to 15

  degrees above normal in these areas. Southern Utah will cool by

  a few degrees but remain near to above record high temperatures

  through early next week.

  

- A return to near record temperatures will return to northern

  Utah Tuesday into Wednesday.



- There is less than 5 percent chance of measurable precipitation

  for the next 7 days across the entire county warning area.



&&



.DISCUSSION...A nearly 600 dam 500mb ridge remains in place across

the Desert Southwest this morning. Temperatures will again near to

exceed all time March records for many locations in Utah...with 

temperatures in excess of the unofficial state record (93) 

forecast across lower Washington County and Zion National Park.



As the northern jet shifts southward this weekend, a dry cold

front will cross northern and central Utah, bringing cooler 

temperatures for the second half of the weekend. Highs Sunday, 

while approximately 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Saturday across 

northern Utah, will still remain well above normal for March. For 

the southern half of the state, temperatures may cool a few 

degrees but will remain near to above record levels for March, 

especially across lower Washington County and other lower 

elevation locations.



High pressure will rebound quickly next week, with near record to

record temperatures returning to northern Utah Tuesday into

Wednesday. The deterministic forecast currently suggests a

potential cool down for northern Utah next Thursday and Friday,

though there is about a 12 degree spread for maximum temperatures

at KSLC for example between the 25th and 75th percentile. The

"cooler" temperatures are short lived however as the 50th

percentile for highs at KSLC reaches back to the mid to upper 70s

by the next weekend.



Looking through the ensemble members as an aggregate of the next 7

days, run total probabilities would suggest around a 10% chance of

measurable precipitation for the northern mountains over the 7

days...however...in reality, there is a less than 5 percent chance

of measurable precipitation on any afternoon through at least 

next Thursday across the entire county warning area.



Those with outdoor plans, especially across southern Utah, should

follow heat safety precautions like it is May or June rather than

March including carrying enough water, considering scheduling

outdoor activities outside peak heating, etc. 



&&



.AVIATION...KSLC...VFR conditions will persist for the KSLC 

terminal through the period. Dry, stable conditions with clear 

skies and light diurnally driven winds will continue.



.REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...VFR conditions will persist

for the entire airspace through the period. Dry, stable 

conditions with clear skies and light diurnally driven winds will 

continue.



&&



.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

UT...None.

WY...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT Saturday for WYZ277.



&&



$$



Kruse/Mahan



For more information from NOAA's National Weather Service visit...

http://weather.gov/saltlakecity