This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah is due some beautiful summer weather — for the camels at Hogle Zoo, anyway.
The Wasatch Front's high temperatures Thursday in the mid-90s will seem cool by comparison to southern Utah's Dixie, where the mercury will hiss past the triple digits. Those readings will be roughly 15 degrees higher than Wednesday's more balmy temperatures.
No rain is on the horizon, either, and that means the state's tinder-dry high deserts, parched forests and arid grasslands were at extreme risk for fast-moving wildfires. The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch for the entire state with the exception of a patch of northeastern Utah including Vernal, and a ban on fireworks and open fires — with the exception of campfires in designated areas — was in effect statewide as well.
At least air quality remained good at mid-week, with the Utah Division of Environmental Quality grading breathability statewide as "Green," or good.
Salt Lake City's high for Thursday was expected to hit 94, up from Wednesday's forecast for 77 degrees; Ogden looked for 91 and 74 degrees, respectively; Provo 95 and 77; Logan 87 and 71; Wendover 92 and 75; Duchesne 84 and 75; Cedar City 92 and 86; St. George 103 and 99; and Moab 98 and 91 degrees.