SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) -- Happy weekend, Utah! We have an unsettled weekend ahead and following record rainfall Friday, we see a soggy setup for our Saturday and an unsettled Sunday.
Strong scattered storms and periods of heavy rain ahead with deep moisture in place SW flow has also dragged some deep, tropical moisture from what was Hurricane Priscilla into Utah, resulting in flooding in the SW corner of the state Friday night. Deep moisture remains in place means scattered thunderstorms and heavy rain bringing the flood threat to a probable risk for our national parks and surrounding recreation areas. We have a "slight" risk for excessive rainfall in Eastern Utah on Saturday and a "marginal risk" for Northern Utah. Heavy rain will accompany storms that develop Saturday.
Since we already have seen flooding and the threat holds on for the first part of the weekend, a "Flood Watch" remains in effect for issued for Central, Eastern and Southern Utah through Saturday evening. We could see issues in low lying areas, normally dry washes, slot canyons and burn scars.
With above average moisture in place, we will see scattered storms and periods of precipitation Saturday. There's an upper-level low from the Pacific Northwest that's deepening and will move inland. As the low moves towards the state, it will send a cold front through Utah around 5pm Saturday evening. There will be thunderstorms and rain along the frontal boundary, and temperatures will dip quickly behind it. You can expect Saturday skies to get active along the Wasatch Front by the afternoon, with heavier precipitation expected in the evening and overnight.
This storm system could bring potential to bring solid rain totals for the valleys and healthy snow totals for the mountains again. At last check, the snow level will drop down to 6000 feet Sunday morning. We could see the first snow flurries fly in places like the high benches, Wasatch Back, with highest elevations in the Wasatch and Uintas picking up anywhere from three to six inches!
A major weather change from Saturday to Sunday will be temperatures. While we will see above average warmth Saturday with 70s expected along the Wasatch Front ahead of the cold front, highs take a serious tumble into Sunday only getting into the upper 50s along the Wasatch Front. Cool, crisp air will be felt by all! Sunday will also have a NW flow in place, so we remain cool, showery and unsettled to start the day. Drier air will move in by the afternoon and we will stay dry in both Northern and Southern Utah to close out the weekend and to start the new work week.
While we start the work week dry, it looks like we could see another quick moving storm system develop and move inland Tuesday through Thursday bringing the chance for some isolated storms. Stay tuned!
We'll keep you posted on the latest developments in our 4Warn Weather forecast both on-air and online, we are Good4Utah!