Big changes are coming to Utah’s weather this weekend.
The Salt Lake City bureau of the National Weather Service said Thursday that “a strong cold front” will come to the entirety of Utah from late Saturday into Monday, with temperatures coming in at 20 degrees lower than average.
The weather service said widespread hard freezes are expected outside of lower elevations of southern Utah. Snow is possible above 6,000 feet of elevation, and there are chances of precipitation south of I-70.
In the Salt Lake City area, temperatures will reach a high of 61 degrees on Saturday, but it will be closer to winterlike weather on Sunday, with a high of 50 and an overnight low of 24.
As of Thursday, the Range Fire in Provo Canyon continues to threaten structures. All Sundance residents are still under a pre-evacuation notice and and all local parks on both sides of U.S. 189 and local trails are still closed. But SR-92 is open again after being closed to all but local traffic from U.S Highway 189 to the turnoff for SR-114.
There was a red flag warning in effect Thursday that expired at 9 p.m. on Thursday. The NWS says a red flag warning will be in effect from noon to 9 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.
Rocky Mountain Power announced Wednesday that it may shut off power to the Sundance and Summit Park areas to “prevent a spark from happening when wind-blown or falling debris make contact with power lines," which could result in a “catastrophic wildfire.” According to the company, a power shutdown would "only be used as a last resort to help ensure community safety.”
The Range Fire, which investigators determined was started by an Orem police officer target shooting at a gun range, was 57% contained by Thursday. Despite being tested by winds, containment lines held.
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