This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
How hot is it in Utah? So hot that a predicted temperature of merely 100 degrees in Salt Lake City on Independence Day is considered a cooling trend.
Before residents of Utah's capital could consider such questionable blessings, however, they had to endure probable record-setting heat again on Wednesday of 103 degrees, itself following Tuesday's hot weather mark of 102. (Monday's 104 shattered the previous record for the date of 101, set in 1990).
But even a few degrees — like the proverbial drop of water on the tongue of the damned — can make a difference. Throughout the state, the mercury was expected to retreat 2-4 degrees on July Fourth from Wednesday's mostly triple-digit highs.
Still, the weather was unseasonably hot, and the National Weather Service continued both its Hazardous Weather Advisory for the western two-thirds of the state and a Heat Advisory for southwest and southcentral Utah.
Renewed pleas for heat-savvy precautions were being made: the elderly, young children, those with chronic health problems and their pets were urged to stay indoors, out of the blazing sunlight. Those who had to be outside were encouraged to take frequent breaks in the shade and to drink lots of fluids to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Air quality along the Wasatch Front was not good, either. Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah and Tooele counties all get "Yellow," or compromised air quality grades through the mid-week period. Away from the Wasatch Front breathing was better, with Box Elder, Cache, Duchesne, Uintah and Washington counties earning "Green," or healthy ratings.
The Intermountain Allergy & Asthma web site had better news, however. Only cattail pollen, at moderate levels, was measured as elevated entering the mid-week.
Salt Lake City's high temperature for Wednesday was to be 104, down from Tuesday's 102 with Thursday's 100 degrees on tap; Ogden looked for 100, 100 and 97; Provo 101, 101 and 98; Logan 99, 99 and 95; Wendover 101, 102 and 98; Duchesne 92, 91 and 90; Cedar City 100, 100 and 97; St. George 113, 111 and 111; and Moab, 101 degrees all three days.
Twitter: @remims Hot weather safety tips: •
—Elderly people (65 years and older), infants and children and people with chronic medical conditions are more prone to heat stress.
—Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death. During conditions of extreme heat, spend time in locations with air-conditioning such as shopping malls, public libraries, or public health sponsored heat-relief shelters in your area.
—Get informed. Listen to local news and weather channels or contact your local public health department during extreme heat conditions for health and safety updates
—Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages and increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention