The National Weather Service is warning that a major heat wave will develop across the Intermountain West by this Friday, bringing widespread triple digit temperatures and elevated heat risk for anyone spending time outdoors.
According to a Key Messages bulletin issued on Tuesday, July 7th, by NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center, high temperatures of 95 to 105 degrees are expected across the region, with some areas potentially climbing above 110 degrees. The heat is forecast to build through the weekend before expanding northeast into the Plains early next week.
Areas around Salt Lake City and Billings are included in the zone facing major to extreme HeatRisk, the NWS classification system used to identify conditions dangerous to public health. The combination of intense daytime highs and unusually warm overnight lows will allow heat stress to accumulate over several days rather than easing after sunset, a trend that increase the danger for hikers, campers and anyone without reliable access to air conditioning.
Longer range outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center show elevated risk of extreme heat continuing into the following week, with moderate risk of a 40 to 60 percent chance extending across portions of the Great Basin through July 17th. While the highest probability of extreme heat is centered further east across the Northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley, the outlook suggests little relief for the Intermountain region in the near term.
Anyone recreating outdoors in Utah, Montana, Colorado or neighboring states this week are urged to follow basic but critical precautions. That means limiting strenuous activity during peak afternoon hours, carrying more water than usual, and avoiding leaving children, pets or livestock without shade or hydration. Trailheads and backcountry areas that see little shade cover are expected to carry elevated risk given how quickly heat related illness can develop under these conditions.
