This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
That lingering, glowing midweek touch of spring gave Utah record-setting warmth, but late-winter weather returns this weekend along the Wasatch Front.
Wednesday's balmy, sometimes sunny conditions saw Salt Lake City thermometers hit 61 degrees, beating the 1945 record high for the date of 60 (the capital city also tied a 1960 record for warmest low of 60). Thursday also was on track to beat a 1999 record daytime high of 62 degrees with the mercury expected to reach 64.
However, don't put away the jackets, yet. If spring is nature's rebirth, consider the past couple days false labor. Deep cleansing breaths, now. Focus. The spring equinox will come — on March 20, 4:28 a.m. (MDT), to be precise.
By Thursday evening valley rains and the potential for mountain snow return to northern Utah. Come Friday, the Wasatch Front again will be wet with low temperatures in the 30s and highs retreating back into the low-to mid-30s; Saturday will bring more of the same, but a few degrees cooler.
Southern Utahns will escape the worst of the coming chill, but not the precipitation. By Friday afternoon the rain clouds will move in and continue making periodic appearances into the weekend. High temperatures will range into the 70s with overnight lows in the 40s.
The Utah Division of Air Quality hoists "green," or healthy breathing banners statewide over the next couple days for the entire state.
The Utah Avalanche Center began Thursday with "considerable" risk grades for the mountains above Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake and Provo. "Moderate" grades went to the Uintas, Skyline and Moab districts. Only southeastern Utah's Abajo mountains were rated at "low" risk for potentially deadly backcountry snow slides.
For more extensive forecast information visit the Tribune's weather page at http://www.sltrib.com/news/weather/.
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