Hot temps bring poor air quality to Wasatch Front

Marie Stevenson stopped to smell the flowers in front of the Lion House yesterday. She said they reminded her of the ones her father used to have.

At 88 degrees in the late afternoon, Salt Lake City was just a few degrees from record-setting heat Monday afternoon. The record for this date was set in 2006 at 92 degrees.

Stevenson, who moved from Pennsylvania to Utah last year, is so happy to be here that she isn't a bit bothered by the weather.

Kathy Parini, who was in downtown Salt Lake City Monday visiting from Fairfield, Calif., isn't complaining either.

"Actually, it's very nice because it was over 100 when I left so it feels cooler to me," she said. "But it's still pretty toasty."

On the flip side, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality labeled Monday a "Yellow Air Day" in Salt Lake, Davis, Utah and Weber counties. Increased temperatures often mean increased pollution in the air, so Utah drivers are asked to keep driving to a minimum when possible.

However, by Wednesday, the National Weather Service predicts temperatures will drop to the low 40s and the heat will be replaced with rain, thunderstorms and perhaps even some snow.

Vernae Collins, another former California resident, doesn't think that's all bad.

"There's no such thing as bad weather," she said.

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E-mail: amacavinta@desnews.com