Temperatures hovering well above normal

Utahns who are tired of sweating face an unfortunate problem — more sweating.

Salt Lake City hit a record high Friday of 103 degrees, breaking the former record, 102 degrees, set in 1973, the National Weather Service reported, as well as a record high minimum temperature of 78 degrees.

"Normals are much lower than this," said Pete Wilensky, lead forecaster with the service in Salt Lake. "The normal high is only 89. So we are well above normal."

High temperatures plaguing Utah since mid-June seem reluctant to abate. High pressure areas over the Western states cause the soaring temperatures. Moisture from thunderstorms help drop the temperatures, but the monsoonlike surge of moisture the state normally sees hasn't come, Wilensky said. The air under the hot air mass is "exceptionally" hot and dry, he said.

"When the air is dry we have really wild temperatures," he said.

A remote automated weather station south of St. George recorded a temperature of 118 degrees on July 4, which likely would set a new state record, although there is some discussion about the data. The station, used by the Bureau of Land Management and several forest agencies, reported the number.

"There was some debate as to whether we can use it as official," Wilensky said. The report is a "preliminary record pending further confirmation."

The Weather Service also received a report Friday of a microburst or dust devil that ripped a roof off a structure in the Hinckley area. The strong winds did not form a tornado, Wilensky stressed.

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E-mail: csmith@desnews.com