The temperature hit 102 Wednesday at the Salt Lake International Airport, tying the record for the hottest Aug. 3 on record. It was also 102 on the same day in 1960.
The repeat scorcher on Wednesday brought to 15 the number of days of 100-degree or higher readings this summer. That ties for second place for the number of days of 100 degrees or more. The 100-degree or higher readings were also recorded on 15 days during the summers of 1940 and 1961."During the summer of 1960 we had 21 days, so we're now in second place - tied with those two years," said William J. Alder, meteorologist in charge of the Salt Lake office of the National Weather Service.
"It looks like another big number again today - 103 or so. The record (104 degrees) for the month of August was set on Aug. 4, 1979," Alder said Thursday morning.
A record high of 79 degrees was noted Wednesday at Alta, where the previous record was 78, set the same day in 1979. Other high readings of 100 degrees or higher recorded Wednesday in Utah included 110 in St. George, 106 at Bullfrog, Kane County; Hanksville, Wayne County; Zion National Park; Arches National Park; 105 at Moab; 102 at Green River, Emery County; 101 at Provo and Brigham Young University; and 100 in Orem.
While temperatures soared to 102 in the Salt Lake area Wednesday, the mercury dropped to a much more comfortable 80 degrees at midnight and to a low of 72 Thursday morning at the Salt Lake airport. Normal highs are 92 and 64.
The forecast is for 100 degrees Friday and Saturday and "it could be close to that on Sunday, depending on if we get a cool front. And it could be a little cooler early next week. That's the only relief in sight," Alder said.