Residents of the Northern Wasatch Front and Salt Lake Valley are advised to baton down the hatches as the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City issues a Wind Advisory in effect from Saturday morning until late evening. According to the advisory, which encompasses locations including Salt Lake City, Bountiful, Sandy, Ogden, and West Jordan, the region will be subject to south to southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts that could reach a hefty 55 mph.
The Wind Advisory warns of potential difficulties, particularly for those piloting high-profile vehicles or vehicles towing trailers. According to the National Weather Service, winds this strong can make driving difficult and advises extra care on the roads. Power outages may also be a consequence as the gusty winds are prone to tossing around unsecured objects with abandon.
To add fuel to the fire a Red Flag Warning is also in place until midnight tonight for parts of Utah, including the Salt Lake Desert, the Central Utah West Desert, and the Color Country West Desert. The warning is due to a combination of blistering winds, which could churn up to 60 mph, humidity levels stooping as low as 8 percent, and subsequently poor overnight recoveries of a mere 20 to 30 percent. It's a perfect storm, so to speak, for fostering extreme fire behavior.
Under these conditions, controlling a new or pre-existing fire could be nigh on impossible, with rapid spread likely. Critical fire weather conditions are expected. Any new fire starts or existing fires may spread rapidly. Officials are likely hoping for a vigilant public and a dearth of sparks to keep the flames at bay under what could be a tinderbox of a weekend, as per the National Weather Service.
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