Salt Lake City woke up under clear skies and mild air Tuesday, starting in the low 50s at the airport, about 52°F, with a light southeast breeze. With full sunshine locked in, the valley will warm fast, with today's high near 78°F and many neighborhoods getting a solid taste of late spring this afternoon. Outdoor plans are an easy yes, as long as you skip the hottest part of the day.
Afternoon Heat And Record Threat
The heat keeps climbing through midweek, with Wednesday shaping up as the real sizzler. Highs near 83°F are on the table, and some spots could come close to or even challenge daily or monthly records. According to the National Weather Service, record to near-record temperatures are expected through Wednesday as a very warm airmass lingers over the interior West. The latest NWS discussion also points out that the next shot at measurable valley rain does not show up until Sunday, March 29.
Short Cool Down Then A Warm Weekend
A dry cold front sliding through on Thursday should trim daytime highs back into the upper 60s for a day or two, still warmer than normal for late March. By the weekend, high pressure rebuilds and temperatures rebound into the upper 70s on Saturday and Sunday. Higher terrain and canyon routes could see gustier winds during these pattern shifts, so factor that in if you are heading for ridge-top hikes or other exposed activities.
What This Means For Your Plans
Hydrate, use sun protection, and shift your hardest outdoor efforts into the morning hours to dodge the midafternoon peak. There are no watches or warnings in effect for the valley at the moment. For a refresher on how this warm stretch kicked off, check out our March 11 look at the first phase of this pattern as it started to move in, as per Hoodline.
