SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 20, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — When temperatures start to rise in the summer months here in Utah, residents like to say “it’s a dry heat.”
But, the heat headed into parts of the Western U.S. this week, including Utah, will be “rare” and could be “dangerous” for those who want to spend time outdoors.
The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City is predicting temperatures in southern Utah to hit 113 degrees today and fluctuate between 111 and 106 degrees throughout the week.
At Utah’s popular Arches National Park, rangers know how quickly these scorching hot days can cause heat exhaustion and heat stroke. At Arches, officials are recommending these ways to beat the heat:
● Avoid hiking in the middle of the day
● Hike in the mornings or late evenings
● Drink four liters of water per day
● Eat salty snacks
● Protect your skin
Here in the Salt Lake Valley, temperatures will also be on the rise, climbing to 99 degrees today and hanging above 95 degrees through Thursday when a cool front could drop temperatures down into the 80’s.
Health experts say even a difference of a few degrees outside can cause the body temperature to spike, and that could potentially affect the brain and other organs.
The elderly, babies, those with health problems and our pets are especially vulnerable because they can’t cool down as fast as an average person.
If you are traveling to other parts of the west as many are during these vacation months, expect just as hot or even more sizzling temperatures.
The Phoenix area is expected to flirt with the 120 degree mark today and Las Vegas could hit routinely hit 112 degrees this week.
And, even though June is typically one of the hottest months in the southwest, researchers believe it’s bound to get even hotter in the future. A recent study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado calculated that summers across much of the globe later this century could be warmer than any summer experienced so far if current emissions continue.
