Salt Lake City hits hottest day of the year, breaks record

Amelia Gotbetter stands at the Great Salt Lake Tuesday, June 15, 2021, near Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City set another heat record Tuesday, June 15, 2021, and experienced its hottest day of the year as the state's record-breaking heat wave persists. Utah's capitol hit 104 degrees, breaking the previous heat record for that date of 103 degrees, according to information from the National Weather Service. On Monday, Salt Lake City hit 103 degrees to break a heat record for that date set nearly 50 years ago. Photo: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. — Salt Lake City set another heat record Tuesday and experienced its hottest day of the year as the state’s record-breaking heatwave persists.

Utah’s capital hit 105 degrees at Salt Lake City airport, tying the all-time hottest temperature ever recorded in the month of June and breaking the previous heat record for that date of 103 degrees, according to information from the National Weather Service.

Salt Lake City has only hit 105 degrees twice before in June, which were two back-to-back late June days in 2013.

On Monday, Salt Lake City hit 103 degrees to break a heat record for that date set nearly 50 years ago.

An excessive heat warning was put in place for much of the state Monday and will remain until at least Tuesday evening. Temperatures in southern Utah are expected to near 112 degrees Tuesday. Temperatures in northern Utah are expected to drop about 5 to 8 degrees by Wednesday.

Salt Lake City’s record-high temperatures come as Utah is experiencing its worst drought in decades. The entire state is experiencing a drought, and about 90% of Utah is now in an extreme drought category.

Tuesday’s high temperature at Las Vegas’ McCarron International Airport was expected to reach 113 degrees (45 Celsius).

Some of the highest temperatures were seen in bone-dry Arizona, where the National Weather Service forecast a record high of 117 degrees (47 degrees Celsius) in Phoenix. The previous high for the date was 115 degrees (46 Celsius), set in 1974.