Utah forecast: The frost is definitely on the 'punkin'

Dialectic poet James Whitcomb Riley would relish northern Utah's weekend forecast, when the frost is on the punkin, they's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere.

The National Weather Service not only predicts overnight lows as being in a chill, autumnal mid-30s going into the weekend, but it issued the first "Hard Freeze" warning of the season for western Uintah County.

The Wasatch Front's daytime highs were pegged at typical fall levels, too — the low-60s.

The southern half of the state was warmer, and while that hard freeze advisory made climatic news in the northeast, forecasters issued a "Red Flag" wildfire warning for the San Rafael Swell area due to dry conditions and windy weather expected there.

High temperatures in Utah's Dixie, meanwhile, were forecast to hit the mid- to upper-80s with overnight lows in the low-50s.

North or south, east or west, sunny, mostly clear skies were predicted.

Salt Lake City's looked for a high of 61 degrees Saturday, down 1 degree from 62; Ogden expected 57 and 58 degrees, respectively; Provo 62 and 65; Logan 57 and 59; Wendover 56 and 61; Duchesne 58 and 61; Cedar City 70 and 75; St. George 84 and 87; and Moab 69 and 79 degrees.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims