Utah forecast: Some rain, snow in north, sunny and warmer south

Isolated valley rains and mountain snowfall were forecast for northern Utah as 2011 wound toward its end this weekend.

Friday was to begin with increasing cloud cover and temperatures in the low-50s and southerly winds of 10-20 mph, but as evening approached rain, turning to snow overnight, was expected to fall.

Southern Utahns expected to escape new precipitation going into this New Year's weekend with temperatures rising into the upper-50s to low-60s under sunny, mostly-clear skies.

The Utah Avalanche Center had issued "yellow" or moderate rankings for the risk of dangerous mountain snow slides throughout the state going into the weekend.

Meanwhile, the state's air quality was expected to improve as the mild storm system moved into the region. Salt Lake City and Davis County, along with Box Elder, Davis and Uintah counties, were rated as "yellow" or compromised for air quality Thursday, but "green" or healthy on Friday. Cache, Tooele and Utah counties had "green" rankings both days.

Salt Lake City's high temperatures were pegged at 48 and 53 degrees on Thursday and Friday, respectively; Ogden looked for 45 and 50 degrees; Provo 49 and 52; Logan 41 and 44; Wendover 45 and 50; Duchesne 35 and 36; Cedar City 54s; St. George 60 and 62; and Moab 45 and 48 degrees.

remims@sltrib.com