This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Punxsutawney Phil told you so. That rodent seer of renown may reside in Pennsylvania, but Utah certainly seems to be on the threshold of the early spring he predicted last month by failing to see his shadow.
Whether you credit the groundhog from Gobbler's Knob or not, the National Weather Service predicts northern Utah will see high temperatures Wednesday in the upper-50s, a few degrees warmer that the highs forecast for Tuesday.
Southern Utahns may be Phil's truest believers: Utah's Dixie looks for the low-70s Wednesday, a couple ticks up on the thermometer from Tuesday's predicted highs.
In both regions, partly cloudy skies are to give way to sunnier horizons going into the midweek — with no rain or snow expected.
Breathe deep: the Utah Division of Air Quality has hoisted its "Green," or healthy air quality flags statewide.
However, winter recreationists hoping to test the powder of Utah's mountain backcountry are cautioned by the Utah Avalanche Center that the risk for dangerous snow slides remains at "moderate" levels heading to the mid-week.
Salt Lake City's high Wednesday was pegged at 57 degrees, up from Tuesday's 47-degree forecast; Ogden looked for 54 and 47 degrees, respectively; Provo 58 and 51; Logan 48 and 40; Wendover 52 and 44; Duchesne 49 and 42; Cedar City 59 and 56; St. George 72 and 70; Moab 61 and 52 degrees.
Twitter: @remims