Utah forecast: Here comes the thunder and rain

A flash flood watch was in effect through Thursday afternoon for central and southern Utah as a series of rain-laden thunderstorms moved into the region.

The National Weather Service said the risk of isolated, heavy rainfall heightened the risk for flooding for an area of the state stretching from Park City on its northern extremity and then running south and west through Provo, Price, Nephi, Milford, Green River, Escalante, Zion National Park and St. George.

Air quality grades early Wednesday were "Yellow," or compromised, for much of the Wasatch Front, but as the storms cleared the horizons all regions of the state were upgraded to "Green," or healthy by the Utah Division of Environmental Quality.

Northern Utah's forecast called for scattered showers and thunderstorm into early Friday, but no incidents of heavy rainfall were expected while temperatures ranged into the upper-80s. However, further south the thunderstorms were expected to produce localized heavy precipitation. Temperatures there, too, were expected to be in the upper-80s.

Salt Lake City's high temperature forecast for Wednesday and Thursday called for 89 an 88 degrees, respectively; Ogden expected 87s; Provo 87 and 86; Logan 89s; Wendover 89 and 90; Duchesne 79 and 78; Cedar City 75 and 76; St. George 88s; and Moab 87 and 88 degrees.

remims@sltrib.com