Heat warning issued for Utah’s Pioneer Day

SALT LAKE CITY – As Utahns gather to celebrate Pioneer Day and await the much-anticipated announcement from the International Olympic Committee, nature will keep things heated.

The KSL weather team is expecting highs of 103 degrees and overnight lows of 74 degrees on July 24. The good news for anyone attending the party at Washington Square in Salt Lake City is that even though the party starts at 2:30 a.m., the city is still many hours away from dangerous heat.

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A heat warning is in place ahead of temperatures set to scorch on the Wasatch Front state holiday. From noon to 10 p.m., people along the northern Wasatch Front can expect heat that can lead to illness. This is especially concerning after heat has claimed several lives in Utah, most recently in Quail Creek State Park.

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The heat warning for Wednesday applies to the Wasatch Front, the Great Salt Lake Desert and Mountains, the Tooele and Rush valleys, part of Cache Valley in Utah, and eastern Juab and Millard counties.

Experts remind anyone outdoors that heat stroke is an emergency and those affected should call 9-1-1. People outdoors are advised to drink plenty of fluids and wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Early morning and evening hours are recommended for strenuous activities.

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It is also recommended to avoid the sun and look after relatives, neighbors and pets.

Earlier this summer, two hikers died in Canyonlands National Park and another in Snow Canyon State Park. Others were rescued or treated for heat-related illnesses.

Heat exhaustion is the leading cause of weather-related deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2023, nearly 120,000 people visited the emergency room for heat-related illnesses and more than 2,300 people died from heat exposure.

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