This summer, Salt Lake City has already broken five summer heat records, which well outpaces previous averages. Between 2010 and 2020, the average number of heat records broken per year was 3.6. The decade previous to that averaged only 2 heat records broken per year.
And while 100 degree days are not unexpected for residents of the Wasatch Front, they were far less frequent for previous generations. For example, the percentage of 100 degree days back in 1950-1959 was only about 6%. This last decade, 2010-2019, showed 19% of days were over 100 degrees..
More heat records are expected to be broken this year. Summer still has several weeks left and high temperatures remain in the extended forecast.
