Heavy rainfall ongoing across central and southern Utah is expected to gradually decrease in coverage overnight into early Tuesday morning, according to a National Weather Service forecast discussion. While coverage is expected to taper off over central Utah by mid-Tuesday morning, southern Utah faces a continued risk of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day.
A slight risk, designated as level 2 of 4, for excessive rainfall remains in effect for southern Utah due to reinvigorated showers and thunderstorms expected Tuesday afternoon. The National Weather Service noted that because widespread heavy rainfall on Monday primed soils across the area, the flash flood risk remains elevated into Tuesday evening across much of southern Utah. The heaviest rainfall is anticipated in higher terrain due to upslope enhancement from easterly flow, as well as in areas near the Arizona border.
In northern and central Utah, dry and northerly flow will result in cooler temperatures and limited chances for precipitation on Tuesday. VFR conditions are expected to persist at the Salt Lake City terminal through the entire TAF period, though a cold front pushing through the area may bring a low chance of showers through 08z. This cold front is also expected to result in enhanced northwest winds across most northern TAF sites, with gusts reaching up to 20 knots.
A warming and drying trend is expected to arrive mid-to-late week as high pressure develops across the western United States. This shift will bring dry and mild conditions to the area starting Wednesday onward. Current radar shows a wide swath of rainfall occurring across much of central and southern Utah, generally east of the I-15 corridor.
A flood watch was in effect until 6 AM MDT for several Utah zones and remained in effect through Tuesday evening for others. Officials noted that as high pressure builds into the region, a warming and drying trend should be expected through the weekend.
