999 FXUS65 KSLC 302152 AFDSLC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT 352 PM MDT Wed Sep 30 2020 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will maintain a warm and dry airmass across the region through the upcoming weekend. && .SHORT TERM (Through 12Z Saturday)... Continued warm and dry weather through the end of the week as high pressure remains in control. A large scale blocking pattern has developed across the eastern Pacific and North America, with a highly amplified jet stream ranging from a broad trough around 160W in the Pacific, a broad ridge over the western US and a broad trough over the eastern US. This blocking pattern will remain locked in through at least the end of this week. The only subtle change will be a slight weakening of the ridge by Friday while a very weak storm system moves down the high plains well to our east. With the forecast area locked in place in the dry, northwesterly flow aloft, we will maintain slightly above normal temperatures, 5-10 degrees above average, with sunny skies and light winds on Thursday. The only slight change into Friday will a slight increase in winds and cloud cover across northeast Utah on Friday as the weak weather system grazes by to our east, with high temperature running, perhaps, a degree or two cooler than Friday, but still above average. .LONG TERM (After 12Z Saturday)... A ridge centered over the CA/AZ border at the start of the extended period will continue to bring very warm and dry conditions to Utah and southwest Wyoming through the extended period. This ridge will shift south and east as a trough enters British Columbia early next week, passing well to the north, resulting in mid level winds becoming more west to southwesterly by mid week. This will result in some weak moisture advection into the area by Wednesday, but not enough to produce any real rain chances. Temperatures will remain 8-12 degrees above average next week with the next potential storm system entering the region next weekend. The only thing to monitor in later forecasts is winds for northeast Utah and southwest Wyoming Monday and Wednesday as gusts may create some fire weather concerns. && .AVIATION... Expect 5-8 kt northwest winds to persist into the evening, transitioning to southeast near 09Z. Light winds along with clear skies will allow for continued VFR conditions at KSLC. Winds will transition to the northwest around 18Z Thursday. && .FIRE WEATHER... High pressure will remain in place along the West Coast through the end of the week, with dry, light northwesterly flow in place across Utah. This will maintain dry weather and above normal temperatures at least through the weekend. A weakening storm moving by to our east on Friday may result in near-critical fire weather conditions across the northern and central Utah mountains. Otherwise, light winds will preclude any critical fire weather conditions despite the prolonged warm and dry conditions. && .SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UT...None. WY...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Church LONG TERM...Burghardt AVIATION...Wilson FIRE WEATHER...Church For more information from NOAA's National Weather Service visit... http://weather.gov/saltlakecity For frequently asked questions about the Area Forecast Discussion visit... http://weather.gov/saltlakecity/general/afd_faqs.php