This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Gale force winds, occasional rain showers, and periodic thunderstorms ushered in northern Utah's weekend weather.
On the bright side, at least you'll be warm as you chase lawn furniture, the kids' trampolines, siding from your house and perhaps an airborne chihuahua through the neighborhood. The National Weather Service, along with issuing wind-related warnings and advisories, predicted high temperatures near 80 degrees along the Wasatch Front on Friday.
Back to that gusty weather. Forecasters issued a High Wind Warning for roughly the western third of the state through 10 p.m. Friday. In the Salt Lake and Tooele valleys, the Great Salt Lake Desert and mountains, and west-central and southwestern Utah, steady winds of 30-40 mph, with gusts topping 60 mph, were expected.
Special caution was urged for drivers of high-profile vehicles, such as semi-trailer rigs, buses and recreational vehicles, particularly along Interstate 80 and U.S. 50, where strong cross-winds were expected.
A Wind Advisory was in place for much of the rest of the Wasatch Front, including Box Elder, Ogden, Davis, Utah, Juab and Washington counties, from noon to 10 p.m. Friday. Winds of 25-35 mph, gusting to more than 45 mph, were predicted.
By Friday night, the winds were to ease, supplanted by isolated showers and thunderstorms early Saturday. Mostly cloudy skies, periodic rain and thunder claps will rule the remainder of Saturday in the Salt Lake and Tooele valleys, with highs in the mid-60s; Sunday will be wet, too, with high temperatures again in the 60s.
After Friday's highs in the mid-80s, southern Utahns also will see winds relent a bit. Breezy conditions will still prevail, though, with winds of 20-35 expected along with temperatures 5-10 degrees cooler on Saturday and Sunday in Utah's Dixie.
Still, there's this: windy weather tends to freshen the air we breathe. The Utah Division of Air Quality flew "green," or healthy breathing banners for the entire state extending through the weekend.
The Intermountain Allergy & Asthma website reported that oak was "high" on its pollen index as of Friday, while mold and grass came in at "moderate." So, if those allergens send you into serial sneezing, remember not to let loose into the wind.
For more extensive forecast information, visit The Salt Lake Tribune's weather page at: http//www.sltrib.com/weather/.
Twitter: @remims