This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
After Friday's strong winds and dry conditions propelled what began as a structure fire across 20 acres of brush and grass in west Salt Lake City, Utahns should be prepared Saturday for similar risks as those gusts continue.
Most valleys in Utah will be subject to "explosive fire growth" due to parched fuels, strong winds and low relative humidity, according to the National Weather Service. A "very dry" air mass, with relative humidity less than 15 percent, sets the scene Saturday as winds increase to 15 mph to 25 mph with gusts reaching up to 40 mph.
Similar conditions will persist Sunday except winds and gusts will be 5 mph to 10 mph stronger. The weather service encourages people to look at wildfire prevention information at UtahFireInfo.gov.
Temperatures in Salt Lake City will reach the upper 90s Saturday with sunny skies. St. George will see highs around 103 degrees. On Sunday, Utah's capital can expect cooler temperatures with highs in the lower 80s and partly cloudy skies producing a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. St. George residents can expect another sunny, breezy day with a high of 101.
As the workweek begins Monday, Salt Lake City will continue to cool with highs in the mid-70s — despite the sunshine. Highs in St. George will drop to the 90s.
Air quality conditions across the state Saturday are expected to be "yellow," according to the Utah Division of Air Quality.
Saturday's pollen count was "high" for mold and moderate for grass as of Saturday morning, the Intermountain Allergy & Asthma website said.
For more detailed forecasts, visit The Salt Lake Tribune's weather page.
Twitter: @mnoblenews