ST. GEORGE — The National Weather Service extended an already-in-place Excessive Heat Warning for four Southern Utah counties on Wednesday.
Such warnings are issued when temperatures are predicted to reach as high as 115 degrees.
Jon Wilson, meteorologist with the NWS in Salt Lake City, told St. George News that the Excessive Heat Warning issued for Kane, Garfield, Iron and Washington counties now will run through Saturday.
“Essentially we’re expecting unusually warm conditions,” Wilson said. “Also unusual is how long the stretch will last. Assuming all goes as expected and the situation doesn’t change, it will end up being a full week straight under a warning.”
Wilson said a heat dome, an area of high pressure that brings warm and dry conditions, centered over Eastern Nevada will slide slowly east over Utah and will bring even hotter temperatures as the weekend approaches.
“It has started to warm up already, we’re seeing triple-digits in the valleys throughout the state,” Wilson said. “Temperatures will creep up a degree or two tomorrow (Thursday), then stay there Friday and Saturday.”
Wilson said that with the warning in place, Washington County can expect high temperatures hovering at 115 with overnight lows in the mid-80s.
The highest daily temperature recorded in Utah history is 117 degrees, measured in St. George in 2022.
Crews busy battling 3 wildfires
The extension of the Excessive Heat Warning included areas near three active wildfires that continued to burn in Southern Utah on Wednesday.
Smoke from these fires is likely to blame for the hazy shade of summer in St. George.
The Little Twist Fire southeast of Beaver has burned 5,096 acres and was listed at 45 percent contained, according to a press release.
Firefighters worked to hold and improve containment lines.
Officials warned that interior pockets of fuel within the perimeter of the fire will continue to burn and produce smoke that will be visible in the South Creek area from both Beaver and Piute Counties.
The Silver King Fire (west of Marysvale) grew to 12,871 acres and was listed at 0% contained, a press release said.
The fire was caused by lightning strikes and started July 5. More than 500 personnel are assigned to the blaze.
The largest wildfire in Utah is the Deer Springs Fire, burning 21 miles northeast of Kanab in Kane County.
The fire is believed to be human-caused and started July 7, according to a press release. The fire has consumed 11,888 acres and is 1% contained.
For the latest National Weather Service forecast, click here.
Photo Gallery
Smoke from fires in Southern Utah made for a hazy day, St. George, Utah, July 10, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Smoke from fires in Southern Utah made for a hazy day, St. George, Utah, July 10, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Smoke from fires in Southern Utah made for a hazy day, St. George, Utah, July 10, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Smoke from fires in Southern Utah made for a hazy day, St. George, Utah, July 10, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
A Type 1 helicopter, which can carry up to 700 gallons of water or fire retardant material, was dispatched to fight the Deer Springs Fire, Utah, July 10, 2024 | Stock photo, St. George News
Members of the Vegas Valley hot shot hand crew prepare to fight the Silver King Fire near Marysvale, Utah, July 10, 2024 | Phot courtesy of Marysvale Fire Department Faceobook page, St. George News
Smoke rises from the Deer Springs Fire as seen from the Pink Cliffs on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, July 10, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Utah Interagency Fire, via Carter Mackley, St. George News
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