This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Northern Utahns can expect hot and dry weather moving toward the weekend, but in southern Utah evening thunderstorms and scattered rain showers were on the horizon.

The National Weather Service predicted high temperatures ranging into the mid-90s on Friday, mirroring Thursday's forecast. Winds of 10-20 mph were also expected to lash the region Friday afternoon. Southern Utah looked for partly cloudy weather both days with highs approaching triple digits, along with the periodic rainfall.

While no flash flood watches were in effect Thursday, rainfall was being blamed for triggering flooding and road damage that forced the Utah Department of Transportation to close a seven-mile stretch of State Road 31 in Huntington Canyon. UDOT had no estimate for when the road would be reopened.

Air quality was expected to be universally "Green," or healthy on Friday, an improvement especially for Salt Lake, Davis and Weber counties which were flying "Yellow," or compromised air quality flags on Thursday, according to the Utah Division of Environmental Quality.

Salt Lake City's high temperature for Friday was pegged at 94 degrees, down a couple degrees from Thursday's forecast; Ogden looked for 90 and 93 degrees, respectively; Provo 94 and 96; Logan 90 and 93; Wendover 95 and 96; Duchesne 87 and 88; Cedar City 92 and 91; St. George 101 and 98; and Moab 96 and 94 degrees.