Utah forecast: Cooler and wetter from north to south

After weeks of heat, Utahns can look forward to cooler temperatures and a little rain.

OK, a lot of rain is ahead for some. The National Weather Service did issue a Flash Flood Watch for central and southern Utah through Tuesday night. That advisory covers an area stretching from Park City south through Provo, Duchesne, Cedar City, Escalante, Zion National Park and St. George to the Utah-Nevada border.

Residents in those areas were warned to keep a eye out for slot canyon flooding and heavy runoff or mudslides from mountain slopes stripped of vegetation by recent fires.

The good news, after a record-setting hot summer: temperatures are significantly cooler with a series of thunderstorms and rain showers rolling through the region into the mid-week. Northern Utah looked for highs on Tuesday in the mid- to upper-80s, with Wednesday's forecast a few degrees warmer — but still well below the recent spate of triple-digit days.

Southern Utahns saw their forecast highs dip into the low-90s Tuesday and mid-90s on Wednesday, again significantly cooler that 100-degree plus days in Utah's Dixie.

As for the atmosphere out there, Utahns should expect a mixed bag. The Utah Division of Air Quality did rate breathability in the "Green," or healthy range statewide, but the Intermountain Allergy & Asthma website reported that chenopods, sagebrush and mold were all at "high" levels and ragweed was "moderate" on its pollen index.

Salt Lake City's high temperature for Wednesday was pegged at 93, up from Tuesday's forecast for 87 degrees; Ogden looked for 89 and 85 degrees, respectively; Provo 91 and 84; Logan 89 and 85; Wendover 89 and 85; Duchesne 81 and 75; Cedar City 84 and 79; St. George 97 and 93; and Moab 93 and 89 degrees.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims