Utah forecast: After a last summer blast, cooler temps

It's a Moody Blues forecast for Utah's mid-week: The summer sun is fading as the year grows old and darker days are drawing near.

After Tuesday's perhaps final blast of summer-like, 80-plus degree weather, the National Weather Service predicted a 15-degree drop in temperatures for Wednesday. Clear skies were to be the rule, with lows in the 40s overnight.

Summer lingered in southern Utah, though Wednesday's highs — in the low-90s — will mark a retreat of a few degrees from Tuesday's forecast highs. Utah's Dixie also expects clear skies.

The Utah Division of Air Quality is flying its "Green," or healthy air quality banners statewide.

Forecasters were hoping a brief spell of "Red Flag," or elevated wildfire risks would not ruin those clear skies. The warning, for an area stretching from Logan south through Wendover, Milford and Manti, was to expire Wednesday evening.

Salt Lake City's high temperature Wednesday is pegged at 68, down from Tuesday's forecast of 83 degrees; Ogden looked for 66 and 80 degrees, respectively; Provo 70 and 82; Logan 64 and 80; Wendover 66 and 81; Duchesne 69 and 75; Cedar City 83 and 85; St. George 93 and 95; and Moab 87 and 84 degrees.

remims@sltrib.com