A sweltering Salt Lake City experienced record-tying temperatures on Wednesday.
Readings from the Salt Lake City International Airport hit 104 degrees as of late afternoon, tying previous records for the July 10 date from both 2013 and 1973, according to the National Weather Service.
The stifling air was accompanied by a dusty valley haze — caused by smoke particles from wildfires in California, Washington and Oregon, said Jon Wilson, a local meteorologist with the weather service.
Wednesday’s temperatures were expected to be only the beginning of a heat wave that will last through the weekend. More heat records around the state will likely be tied or broken, Wilson said.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A construction worker uses an umbrella to stay cool while working in the heat in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 8, 2024.
“In fact, we have some forecast temperatures that are within a degree or two of the all-time record high,” he added.
That all-time record high for Salt Lake City? 107 degrees.
The following high temperatures are forecast this week: 105 on Thursday, 104 on Friday, 104 on Saturday and 100 on Sunday.
Wilson cautioned the public to take these forecasts seriously. “Heat is actually the No. 1 killer of all weather hazards,” he said.
He advised people to drink lots of water; avoid strenuous outdoor exercise midday; seek out air-conditioning; check in on your friends, family and neighbors; keep an eye out for symptoms of heat exhaustion; and never leave children or pets in a vehicle.
In Salt Lake County, you can hydrate and escape the sun at designated “cool zones,” available at public libraries and senior centers. Libraries are open to all ages, and senior centers are open to everyone over the age of 60.
To find a free, air-conditioned cool zone near you, visit slco.to/zones.