This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

August went out sun-drenched and flirting with record-setting heat in northern Utah, but September was to dawn under storm clouds and cooler temperatures.

Whether Salt Lake City's Aug. 31, 1950 hot temperature record of 98 degrees would stand awaited the National Weather Service's declaration of Wednesday's official high. Various forecasts for the state capital's high for the date ranged from 97 to 99 degrees.

Goodbye August, indeed. As Stelladeora's Justina Carubia sings, "take this grain of summer sand as a keepsake . . . take these dreams of fireflies and set them free."

However, a system of thunderstorms and isolated rain showers arriving Wednesday night will extend through Thursday, cooling temperatures into the low-90s along the Wasatch Front. Partly cloudy conditions will persist on Friday, with highs hovering around 90 once more.

Hot, dry conditions will rule in the Great Salt Lake and central Utah and West deserts, where a Red Flag Warning for wildfire danger was in place from 6 a.m. Thursday through 10 p.m. Friday. Forecasters noted that ultra-low humidity, gusty winds and tinder-dry rangelands and forests — combined with the potential for dry lightning — elevated risks for potentially explosive fires.

Southern Utahns expected 100-degree temperatures on Wednesday. Thunderstorms were due by early Thursday morning, dropping highs a few degrees. Storm clouds will persist through Thursday evening, with skies clearing on Friday ahead of highs in the mid-90s.

The Utah Division of Air Quality noted that while "yellow," or moderate levels of particulate pollution will extend through the end of the week in Salt Lake, Davis, Utah and Weber counties, the remainder of the state will be "green," or healthy for air quality.

The Intermountain Allergy & Asthma website reported that chenopods, sagebrush and grass were all at "high" levels Wednesday on its pollen index; ragweed and mold rated "moderate" grades.

For more extensive forecast information, visit The Salt Lake Tribune's weather page at: http//www.sltrib.com/weather/.

Twitter: @remims