Salt Lake City woke up to blue skies and a mild 61°F at Salt Lake City International on Tuesday, but the cool start will not last long. A fast warm-up is in play, with afternoon highs headed for the low to mid 90s. With very dry air in place, the heat will feel more intense than the numbers suggest, and forecasters warn that heat stress is a real concern for anyone working or playing outside. If you can, shift yard work, runs, and dog walks to the early morning or later in the evening.
Afternoon Heat Through Wednesday
Highs are expected to top out near 94°F on Tuesday and around 90°F on Wednesday, with valley humidity staying very low during the afternoon. The stretch is being described as "near record to record" heat through Wednesday, which bumps up the risk of heat-related illness for people who are active outdoors, according to the National Weather Service Salt Lake City.
Thunderstorms And Wind Risk
A passing shortwave skimming northern Utah on Wednesday afternoon could kick off isolated, high-based thunderstorms over the mountains that may drift into nearby valley neighborhoods. Forecasters say any storm that pops up could throw down strong microburst winds and small hail, with localized gusts potentially reaching 50–60 mph near the stronger cells. The chance of rain in the valleys is still low, but it is on the table during the hottest part of the day.
Fire Weather Watch For Southwestern Utah
While heat is the headline in the Salt Lake Valley, the most urgent concern sits over southwestern Utah, where a Fire Weather Watch is posted for Wednesday afternoon into the evening. Strong southwest wind gusts paired with very dry fuels could lead to critical fire weather conditions in those areas, according to the National Weather Service Salt Lake City.
How To Stay Safe
To stay out of trouble in this early-season heat, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the midday and early afternoon, drink plenty of water, and check in on older neighbors, young children, and pets who may not have good access to air conditioning. Salt Lake County has opened cooling centers, including the Salt Palace Convention Center (100 S West Temple) and the Mountain America Expo Center (9575 S State Street in Sandy), for residents who need a break from the heat, per FOX 13.
Local Context
We first flagged this early May warm-up last week, and this update zeroes in on the new advisories plus the increasing midday storm and wind threat. For background on how we got here, see our earlier Hoodline coverage of the warming trend.
