Utahns are being warned to take precautions with temperatures expected to climb above 100 degrees later this week in Salt Lake City.
High heat above 100 degrees is anticipated to arrive Wednesday and to persist through Saturday. There is even a 25% chance of breaking an all-time record 107 degrees on Saturday, for the first time since 2022, said Nicole Desmet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
“It’s unusually warm. We have a very strong area of high pressure that’s currently west,” Desmet said. This ridge is currently causing extreme heat in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it is expected to soon shift east to hover right above Utah, and to intensify temperatures in the state.
Currently, the NWS has issued an excessive heat watch across northern Utah, which may escalate to an excessive heat warning as the forecast becomes more certain.
St. George has already been issued an excessive heat warning, with temperatures exceeding 110 degrees on Sunday. That area’s peak heat is expected Thursday, when it may reach 115 degrees.
[Read more: St. George braces for 114-plus temps. So why aren’t some sweating it?]
During excessive heat warnings, Desmet recommends rescheduling any hikes to early mornings or late evenings, times when the heat has simmered down. Officials also advise finding a cool place, including cooling centers, during the day.
Area cooling centers include public libraries and senior centers. For more information, contact 2-1-1 or consult the slco.org website for sites in Salt Lake County.
University Health Burn Center and Salt Lake City Fire Department also warn residents to be careful around common heat hazards during the hottest days, which include hot surfaces in playgrounds, outdoor grilling and fireworks.
Health experts also advise people to wear loose, lightweight and light-colored clothing, seek shade when outdoors, drink plenty of fluid and avoid strenuous work or activities outdoors in the heat of the day. Children and pets should never be left in cars for any period of time.
