This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Northern Utahns are in for a break — albeit a tiny one — from the recent record-setting heat, and perhaps even a little wet relief.
But that doesn't mean its time to break out the fur-lined parkas; it's still going to be hot along the Wasatch Front, with the National Weather Service forecasting high temperatures in the upper-90s on Wednesday, a 5-7 degree drop from Monday's 104 degrees.
On Tuesday afternoon, the temperature reached 100 degrees for the 4th day in a row at the Salt Lake City airport, the weather service reported. But potentially cooling evening rain showers and thunderstorms also were on the menu.
However, Ma Nature's hot breath was unrelenting in southern Utah, where high were to soar to 107 degrees on Wednesday in St. George, matching Tuesday's forecast. Evening breezes Tuesday and rain showers late Wednesday may offer some respite.
Meanwhile, NWS compiled several record heat events from Monday's reports. While the state's capital missed a daytime high mark by 1 degree, Alpine's 99 beat a 2013 record of 97 degrees; Brigham City tied its 1966 mark of 98; Provo's 103 bettered a 2013 record of 102; Spanish Fork's 101 retired its 1990 mark of 100, and Tooele, also at 101 Monday, topped its 2007 record of 100 degrees.
Salt Lake City's early Monday morning low of 78 degrees did beat an 1883 record-high overnight temperature of 76. Record warm low temperature marks also were set by Alpine (65, bettering 64 set in 2012); Alta (58, 56 in 1992); Cedar City (tied 65, set in 2012); and Provo (68, 67 in 2011).
The Utah Division of Air Quality, reflecting the high pressure system trapping heat and ozone in the valleys, issued "orange" or unhealthy ratings for the entire state through the midweek, with the exceptions of Box Elder, Washington, Carbon, Duchesne and Uintah counties ("yellow," or compromised) and the sole "green," or healthy region, Cache County.
The Intermountain Allergy & Asthma website listed mold and grass pollen as "high" Tuesday, while chenopod allergens were "moderate."
For for extensive forecast information, visit the Tribune's weather page at: http://sltrib.com/weather/.
Twitter: @remims