Partly sunny and still cool Monday afternoon, but a big warm-up on the way

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Happy Monday, Utah! After a few passing valley rain showers and mountain snow showers Monday morning, conditions are improving this afternoon with clearing skies and slightly warmer temperatures. Highs Monday afternoon will warm into the mid to upper 50s for the Wasatch Front and 70s to near 80 for SW Utah.

As skies clear and colder air settles in, Monday night is shaping up to be another chilly one. Overnight lows will drop well below normal once again, with some rural valleys dipping to or below freezing.

Areas most at risk include the western Uinta Basin and central and southwest Utah valleys, especially in more outlying spots. A Freeze Warning remains in effect through Tuesday morning. Any sensitive vegetation could be impacted in areas where temperatures dip into the 20s briefly.

Tuesday, a big high-pressure ridge begins to build in and takes control for the rest of the week. Temperatures will warm from below average to kickoff the week, to well-above average by late this week. Highs along the Wasatch Front will warm into the lower 80s, and highs for SW Utah will jump into the upper 90s.

The ridge will bring plenty of dry air, so look for mostly dry conditions to close out the month of May! A weak trough may graze northern Utah this weekend, leveling off the warm-up, but we should remain on the warmer side of things.

Models begin to diverge on Memorial Day, with some showing dry conditions and others hinting at storm chances.

Stay tuned, we’ll keep you 4Warned on-air and online!