This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
"Storm is risin', and the rain begins to fall, trouble is at my window, and the blues is knockin' down my door," the legendary Lonnie Johnson sang, a lament that sums up northern Utah's weekend forecast.
Thunderheads rolled into the region with dawn Friday, bringing rumbling, lightning, and scattered showers. Daytime temperatures were to slide about 10 degrees into the low- to mid-70s Friday, and it will be cooler yet come Saturday and Sunday — which also will continue cycles of thunderstorms — as the mercury dips into low- to mid-60s along the Wasatch Front.
Southern Utahns looked for a similar weekend forecast, with thunder, lightning, and rainstorms all making periodic appearances. However, Utah's Dixie will see temperatures about 5-10 degrees warmer, with Saturday expected to peak at 70 in Utah's Dixie.
Maybe, like another bluesman, Lightnin' Hopkins, southern Utahns will take the time to watch the clouds and listen to the thunderclaps and agree, "Lord, I'm just sittin' down here thinkin', what am I gonna do on this rainy day?"
The Utah Division of Air Quality's forecast for "green," or healthy conditions statewide is more of a wordless instrumental, offering deep, lung-cleansing sighs amid the crying, occasionally growling skies. For that, perhaps Belgian Mississippi blues-stylist Vincent Siegers might suffice.
Then again, the Intermountain Allergy & Asthma website reminds that there could be good reason for the weekend blues: as of Friday, mulberry, oak, cedar and cottonwood pollen levels were "very high," and sycamore "high."
For more extensive forecast information, visit The Salt Lake Tribune's weather page at: http//www.sltrib.com/weather/.
Twitter: @remims