Utah weekend forecast: Wind, rain and maybe lightning

Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven not only may be the best rock song, ever — it sums up Utah's weekend weather forecast, with a liberty or two: "If there's a [blustery, wet] bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now. It's just a spring clean for the May Queen."

Propelled by winds of 10-20 mph, northern Utahns looked for a weekend of afternoon and evening thunderstorms and rain showers. Temperatures Saturday were to range into the upper-60s along the Wasatch Front, mirroring Friday's forecast.

In southern Utah, that classic guitar solo by Jimmy Page and haunting vocals of Robert Plant could portend "a new [Satur]day will dawn for those who stand long" despite gusts above 25 mph — no "whispering wind" there, though.

Still, with highs in the low-80s and evening thunderstorms on the horizon, the duo could suggest that the "forests [and red rocks] will echo with laughter" in Utah's Dixie and the region's mountains.

However, barring unexpected wildfires, the Utah Division of Air Quality ruled out "rings of smoke through the trees," giving the entire state its "Green," or healthy air quality rating. And while mulberry, maple and box elder pollen levels were to remain elevated, allergy suffers generally were getting a break from the Intermountain Allergy & Asthma index.

Salt Lake City's high temperature Saturday is pegged at 67 degrees, down 2 degrees from Friday's forecast; Ogden looked for 64 and 67 degrees, respectively; Provo 66 and 73; Logan 62 and 66; Wendover 67 and 62; Duchesne 64 and 78; Cedar City 70 and 72; St. George 82s; and Moab 73 and 86 degrees.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims