ST. GEORGE — The heat dome camped out over Southern Utah likely will continue for at least another week to 10 days. And those monsoons that bring needed moisture and relief might just be on the way, at least in the mountains.

Salt Lake City-based National Weather Service Meteorologist Nicole DeSmet told St. George News in a Thursday afternoon phone call that the culprit to blame for this long stretch of triple-digit heat is one of the usual suspects.

“Essentially, we’re under a dome of high pressure which is creating your high temperatures,” DeSmet said. “It’s a broad-scale flow of high pressure that settles over an area … there’s nothing to mix it up, no systems coming in to push it out.

“You’ll be seeing anything from 102-111 the next couple of days. Unfortunately, there isn’t much relief in sight for the short to mid-range forecast.”

But the “monsoonal flow” usually occurring by now isn’t too far off, she added, though it might not hit downtown St. George and the surrounding valleys right away. Some precipitation in the form of thunderstorms is forecast next week in Utah’s central and southern mountains, but not a substantial amount of moisture.

DeSmet said the outlook for the rest of summer indicates above-average temperatures and “equal chances of precip with periods of wet and periods of dry.”

Heading into Pioneer Day Weekend, the weather service continues to issue heat advisories across the state. Closer to home, Washington, Iron, Beaver, Garfield and Kane counties remain under an excessive heat warning, which currently runs 6 a.m Friday through 9 a.m. Monday.

Temperatures could reach 113 degrees Saturday, and areas likely to feel the most oppressive heat, the weather service said, are lower Washington County, Zion National Park, St. George, Washington City, Hurricane, Ivins and Springdale.

The weather service also reminds the public that “extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.”

While temperatures pose their own challenges, UV rays and air quality also should be considered.

The daytime UV index in St. George at 3 p.m. Thursday was 11, on a scale from 0-11, making it “extreme,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency UV Index calculator. As a result, “Protection against sun damage is needed. If you need to be outside during midday hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., take steps to reduce sun exposure. A shirt, hat and sunscreen are a must, and be sure you seek shade.”

Some good news, however, comes in the form of air quality, which the Utah Department of Environmental Quality reports is “good.” The department measures air quality by way of particulate matter, “also known as particle pollution … a complex mixture of extremely small dust and soot particles.”

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