ST. GEORGE — While spring and summer heat is nothing new to Southern Utahns, weather experts are urging folks to be prepared over the next few days — and beyond.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Darren Van Cleave told St. George News that St. George normally wouldn’t see 108 degrees, the forecast for Thursday this week, until July 4. But a warm, dry ridge is building in the West and is producing late spring heat.
“We had some episodic heat in May,” Van Cleave said from the weather service office in Salt Lake City. “But we’re not usually this hot this early.”
The NWS excessive heat warning was issued not only because of how hot it currently is — 100 degrees at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday — but because “it’s the first real heat wave of the year,” Van Cleave added. “People may not be as acclimated” in June as they are later in the summer.
The alert was issued Sunday, and in the days since, the weather service has been updating daily the areas and length of the advisory. The current alert runs from 11 a.m. Thursday through midnight Friday-Saturday and calls for “dangerously hot conditions with high temperatures between 104 and 108 degrees expected. Overnight temperatures will only reach into the mid-70s, limiting overnight relief from the heat.”
Washington, Iron, Garfield, Kane and Beaver counties are all part of the warning. Specific areas expected to be impacted by the warning include St George, Springdale, Hurricane, Ivins, Lower Washington County and Zion National Park-Glen Canyon Recreation Area/Lake Powell.
Cedar City, Beaver and Milford residents aren’t exactly going to be donning sweatshirts. There’s a heat advisory in effect for the same timeframe, with high temperatures expected to be in the upper 90s to lower 100s.
The NWS warns residents about the impact of heat-related illnesses, which could “increase significantly during extreme heat events,” according to a news release. The following precautions are recommended:
- Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
- Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
- Water temperatures this early in the season are still cold. Please practice cold water safety if recreating on area lakes.
- Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates.
The weather service also has issued an excessive heat warning for parts of Grand Canyon National Park, from 8 a.m. Thursday through 8 p.m. Friday, for areas below 4,000 feet in the canyon including Phantom Ranch and Havasupai Gardens. Forecast temperatures in the shade range between 105 and 111. Hotter-than-normal temperatures will also hit the rims, with highs of 92 on the South Rim and 85 on the North Rim, the news release said.
The National Park Service recommendations for safe hiking and recreating are universal and specifically include reminders about not hiking below the rim during the excessive heat warning.
“Hiking in extreme heat can lead to serious health risks including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hyponatremia and death,” the news release said. “Be aware that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed during the summer months due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, employee safety requirements and limited helicopter flying capability during periods of extreme heat or inclement weather.”
Van Cleave recommends reviewing the weather service Heat Safety Tips and Resources webpage.
Once this week’s warning ends, however, the air isn’t exactly going to feel cool. Van Cleave said there “won’t be a lot of relief” as temperatures in the 100s are forecast to return next Tuesday or Wednesday.
For up-to-date National Weather Service forecasts, click here.
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