Scorching weekend to set records

Hot is the word this weekend as high temperatures are setting new records in many regions of Utah.

It hasn't been this hot, on this day, in Salt Lake City since 1960, when a record high temperature was set at 91 degrees. Today's high is expected to be the same and possibly even higher in some places across the state.

"It was the hottest day of the year so far, and it's a very early day in the year to hit the 90s," said Kevin Eubank, KSL meteorologist. Salt Lake, he said, doesn't usually hit such high temperatures until the first week of June.

He blames high-pressure weather patterns that are keeping moisture and cloud cover from getting to the state.

The unseasonably warm temperatures don't necessarily mean that the rest of the summer will have above-average heat, Eubank said. Utah's average for this time of year hovers around 69 degrees.

"An extra-warm spring doesn't always translate into an extra-hot summer," he said. However, the recent weather does indicate trends of being warmer and drier than usual, a signal of the drought much of the state is already experiencing.

Today is expected to be 91 degrees in Salt Lake City and surrounding areas, and 98 degrees in southern Utah. Utah County is expected to hit 90 degrees today.

Mother's Day will be a bit cooler, topping off at 86 degrees in the capital city and in Utah County, while northern Utah may be even cooler and southern Utah could still be hot at 95 degrees. Temperatures around Provo will settle into the 80s for the rest of the week.

Cooler temperatures are expected to grace the state late Sunday or early Monday as clouds settle in, creating possibilities for some late-spring moisture, Eubank said. By midweek, temperatures might drop into the 70s, but until then, he recommends closing the blinds in the house and drinking a lot of water to stay hydrated and avoid high energy costs of running the air conditioner.

Eubank also suggested keeping plants and trees in the yard watered.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com