High temperature records could fall this week — and smoke will linger across Utah

There is an excessive heat warning in St. George and Zion on Tuesday and Wednesday.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Smoke over Salt Lake City on Friday, August 20, 2021. Smoke is expected to linger over Utah this week.

Much of Utah will be smoky and hot by Friday. High temperature records could be broken.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for the southwest corner of the state – including St. George and Zion National Park – Tuesday lunchtime through 9 p.m. Wednesday, with highs of 107 to 108 – 12 to 13 degrees above normal on the time of the Year. The heat will “greatly increase the potential for heat-related diseases, especially for those who work or take part in outdoor activities”.

Temperatures keep climbing a degree or two every day, and now we’re in a record breaking area. Here are some predictions versus the records for some spots today at Wendover 94/95, Bryce National Park 86/88, Evanston, WY 82/83, and Price 90/91. Thursday will be the hottest day. #utwx pic.twitter.com/y544Ro1Gvj

– NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) September 7, 2021

Southwest Utah isn’t the only part of the state where temperatures are expected to be well above average this week. On Tuesday, the forecast highs are 10-13 degrees above normal in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Wendover, Randolph, Duchesne, Vernal, Nephi, Manti, Price, Cedar City, Milford, Bryce Canyon, Monticello, Kanab and Big Water. and 5-9 degrees above normal in other areas.

In Salt Lake City, the forecast high is 91 on Tuesday, 94 on Wednesday, and 97 on Thursday, before dropping back to 90 on Friday.

And the air quality won’t be good. Smoke from forest fires on the west coast will continue to sweep across the state. It will be orange / unhealthy for sensitive people on Tuesday and Wednesday in Salt Lake, Davis, Duchesne, Uintah, and Utah counties, according to the Utah Division of Environmental Quality.

Unfortunately, when the high pressure is firmly in place, it looks like the smoke has been hanging around for at least a few days. Here is the model forecast of smoke levels in the entire atmosphere by Wednesday afternoon. #utwx pic.twitter.com/o3yUbnGcJN

– NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) September 7, 2021

The DEQ forecasts yellow / moderate air quality in the counties of Cache, Carbon, Iron, Tooele, Washington and Weber / Box Elder on both days.

There is a chance of showers on Friday night and Saturday in northern Utah if temperatures are expected in the 80s.

There will be a little cooling off in southern Utah, but only a little. According to the National Weather Service, it will be 107 on Thursday and 103 on Friday, and in the low three-digit range by Monday.

No precipitation is forecast for southern Utah.

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