Salt Lake City woke up clear and cool this morning at about 48°F, but the valley is on a fast track to summer-style warmth. Sunshine will dominate with a high near 74°F on Friday, May 22, and temperatures are set to climb into the mid to upper 80s by Sunday and Memorial Day. Any outdoor plans this weekend will feel a lot more like July than late May.
Afternoon Storms And Wind Risk
While the valley basks in sun, isolated to widely scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible over the central and southern mountains Friday afternoon into Friday evening. Any storm could kick out microburst-like outflow winds up to about 45 mph, especially east of higher terrain near Ferron, Emery, and Torrey. The National Weather Service is also flagging a growing chance of strong winds across western Utah early next week and notes that gusty, erratic outflows are possible locally.
Warm Memorial Day Weekend
Mean upper-level ridging will keep cranking up the heat through the holiday. Highs are expected to reach about 82°F on Saturday, around 86°F on Sunday, and near 87°F on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. That late-spring surge will push daytime temperatures to roughly 10 degrees above normal across the Wasatch Front. We flagged this shift earlier in our weekend outlook on warmer holiday weather, as per Hoodline.
Plan Ahead
If you have outdoor plans, pack sunscreen and plenty of water for weekend events, and keep a light jacket handy for brief mountain showers on Friday. Motorists should pay attention to the forecast if traveling through canyon routes, where afternoon storms can bring sudden gusts or slick spots. Later next week, strong west to southwest winds may make travel difficult for high-profile vehicles and raise fire danger across southern Utah, so keep an eye on local advisories and avoid burning during dry, windy periods.
Check the latest forecast before heading out, and expect warm, mostly sunny conditions across the valley through Memorial Day. For updates and advisories, consult local officials and the National Weather Service.
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