876
FXUS65 KSLC 022250
AFDSLC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
350 PM MST Mon Feb 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- High pressure will bring warmer than normal and dry conditions
  into the weekend.

- There is high confidence in a pattern change toward a more
  active storm track for the western U.S. from roughly Sunday into
  Monday through much of that week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...A grazing shortwave trough and associated baroclinic
zone have tracked from north to south across most of Utah. The
boundary will continue to track through southern Utah Monday
evening. This will result in enhanced north winds for Black Ridge
Canyon into lower Washington County. Despite a sufficient pressure
gradient, the cold air advection and winds with the system are
lacking. Gusts to roughly 45 mph will continue through much of
Tuesday.

A ridge will track inland through the week, with dry and warmer
than normal conditions with light winds. The lack of flow and
warming conditions will result in an increase in valley haze,
especially Thursday into the weekend as the ridge builds into Utah
and valley inversions establish. Valley highs will be in the low
and mid 50s for much of Utah, with highs near 70F for lower
Washington County, 10-20F warmer than normal.

Ensembles are in agreement on a pattern change from later in the
weekend through that week, with almost all GEFS, EPS, and GEPS
members with at least some precipitation for most of Utah. This
would be associated with a longwave trough that would track into
the western U.S. Those ensemble members have big ranges in
potential precipitation totals, so confidence on details is low.

&&

.AVIATION...KSLC...VFR conditions prevail at the terminal through
the period. Generally light northerly winds persist through around
04z, switching predominantly southeasterly thereafter. A period of
light and variable winds are possible in the early evening.

.REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...VFR conditions prevail for all
regional terminals today as dry conditions and clear skies continue
across the airspace. Most locations will see light, terrain driven
winds through the period. Gusty northerly gap winds developing
across southwest Utah will bring gusts to 25-30 kts for some
locations near canyon mouths through this evening.

&&

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

$$

PUBLIC...Wilson
AVIATION...Whitlam

For more information from NOAA`s National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/saltlakecity