Area forecast discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City Utah
1018 am MDT Thursday may 23 2013
Synopsis...a weak cold front will push across northwest and west
central Utah tonight reinforcing the cooler air in place through
Friday. Southerly surface winds bring a warming trend for the
weekend.
&&
Discussion...a weak front is currently located across central
Utah. Cooler...more seasonable temperatures can be expected across
areas north of this front...with warm...Summer-like temperatures
to the south.
A large and semistationary trough is currently located near the
Pacific northwest coast. A disturbance rotating around this trough
will reinforce the cold front later today into tonight. With this
disturbance approaching the area...expect enhanced winds south of
the front. Given the relatively strong winds that were experienced
in these areas yesterday and the slight increase in winds forecast
by the NAM and GFS...decided to issue a Wind Advisory for the
valleys of central and southern Utah. The biggest impacts with
these winds will be strong Crosswinds for high profile vehicles on
mainly east-west routes including US 89 and I-70. Boaters in area
lakes...especially Lake Powell...should be prepared for rough chop.
Updated the zones to increase winds. Am a bit concerned
temperatures across northern Utah are around 3 to 5 degrees too
cool...but will watch trends over the next few hours before
updating. Otherwise...no other updates are expected at this time.
&&
Aviation...surface winds will be the primary operational weather
concern today at the kslc terminal. Light southeast winds are
forecast to return to northwesterly by 17z and remain that way
through the afternoon. Winds could become gusty out of the northwest
late today through this evening as another cold front crosses the
airfield. There is a 30 percent chance that winds could remain
variable or even light southerly until the cold front arrives around
00-02z. VFR conditions will prevail with any ceilings well above 7000 feet.
&&
Fire weather...a dry front across the district will work back north
today ahead of another disturbance centered over northwestern Nevada
this morning. South winds to the south of the front will become
strong today as this disturbance approaches. Humidity will fall to
very low levels in the dry airmass south of the front and combined
with the strong winds...would create widespread hazardous fire
weather conditions if fuels were critical. The disturbance will push
the front back south and east again this evening with is stalling
over eastern and southern Utah by late tonight. The airmass will
remain dry and local gusty south winds will redevelop each afternoon
through the weekend across mainly southern Utah but speeds should be
much lower than today.
&&
Slc watches/warnings/advisories...
Utah...Wind Advisory until 9 PM MDT this evening for
utz012>016-019>021.
Wyoming...none.
&&
$$
Kruse/wilensky
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