Cooler temperatures are on the way Utah, but get used to the heat domes
Sep 7, 2022, 3:30 PM | Updated: 4:58 pm
Witnesses report a man in his 20s was driving a motorcycle very fast up the canyon. Following this, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — After a week of record-breaking Utah heat, including a 107 degree scorcher today, KSL Meteorologist Matt Johnson has good news for those itching for sweater weather.
“A desperately needed pattern change that we’ve been waiting for. It’s more ‘fall like,'” Johnson told KSL NewsRadio.
And along with heat cooling down, Johnson said there’s a good chance for precipitation across Utah.
“The six- to ten-day outlook, so, next week and the beginning of the week after that, there’s a 60- to 70% chance of seeing above-normal precipitation,” said Johnson.
The heat streak that Utah’s been experiencing is abnormal for this type of year.
The current heatwave has put SLC on the all-time longest stretches of back-to-back 100s.
We are at 7 with a potential to hit 10 by Thursday. If we were to ever make a run at such a record it would be in July, not September. Consider that. #utwx pic.twitter.com/Sy55D8fH9E
— Matthew Johnson (@KSL_Matt) September 6, 2022
“It’s impressive how long this high-pressure system has held on,” Johnson said. “This is the time of season that we see light cold fronts graze Utah.”
The particular high-pressure system Johnson’s referring to has been described as a heat dome. On his twitter page, Johnson described the differences in pressure above the Earth, the numbers involved in a typical high pressure system and those that the weather experts have seen over the last several days.
In a nutshell he describes the competing pressure systems as being way off their typical numbers, creating an “exceptionally strong high pressure reading.”
And he says these heat domes, aren’t going anywhere.
“These are going to become larger in size, longer in duration, and more frequent.
For now, Johnson’s expecting a cool front to make its way across northern Utah by Friday. He says it will bring temperatures down to 90 and below.
Related reading:
- Record heat bakes the Salt Lake Valley; heat record tied
- New climate tool shows Utah’s record heat a result of climate change
