Utah forecast: Drier, warmer Saturday after rainy Friday

Northern Utah's forecast for Saturday called for continued cooler temperatures as the region began to dry out from a series of Friday rain showers and isolated thunderstorms.

The Wasatch Front's high temperatures were to range into the upper-60s after Friday's forecast highs in the low- to mid-60s.

Warm and dry weather was to return to southern Utah, where thunderstorms developed Friday afternoon. High temperatures on Saturday were to approach 90 degrees, up a few degrees from Friday's highs. Winds of 20 mph, coupled with low humidity and bountiful vegetation in the high deserts, kept fire danger high.

Indeed, forecasters issued a "Red Flag" warning for southwestern Utah including St. George and Zion National Park and running to Bluff in the southeast, as well as north into central Utah and the Price area and into eastern Utah's Green River and Moab areas. The warning was officially set to expire 10 p.m. Friday, but dry conditions were expected to keep wildfire risk high through the weekend.

Improved air quality was forecast for the entire state, which was awarded "Green" or good air quality grades by state environmental officials.

Salt Lake City's high temperature Saturday was pegged at 71 degrees, up from the 66 forecast Friday; Ogden expected 69 and 66, respectively; Provo 72 and 66; Logan 68 and 64; Wendover 73 and 69; Duchesne 71s; Cedar City 75 and 71; St. George 88 and 84; and Moab 78 and 84 degrees.

remims@sltrib.com