Summer nights in Salt Lake City are getting warmer
You're not imagining it: Your summer evening porch hangs are getting hotter.
Why it matters: Higher overnight temperatures can have health consequences for vulnerable groups and boost air conditioning use.
That, in turn, can strain electrical grids and increase energy demand, fueling a vicious cycle with more greenhouse gas emissions.
Driving the news: Salt Lake City is among the U.S. locations that have seen the largest increases in summer nighttime temperatures between 1970 and 2024, according to a new report from Climate Central.
By the numbers: 96% of 241 locations analyzed in the report saw a rise in evening temperatures, by 3.1 degrees on average.
Salt Lake City's temperatures on average rose by 8.2 degrees.
The latest: Rocky Mountain Power issued an advisory Wednesday, urging customers to conserve energy ahead of triple-digit temperatures hitting the valley, particularly during high-demand hours from 3 to 8pm.
Zoom out: The higher temperatures in the evening are happening across much of the U.S. — especially in Nevada and other parts of the Southwest.
Reno, Nevada (17.7 degrees), Las Vegas (10) and El Paso, Texas (8.9) saw the biggest increases.
Between the lines: Hundreds of U.S. cities are experiencing more frequent warmer-than-average summer nights "with a strong climate change fingerprint," Climate Central says.
That's based on the group's Climate Shift Index — a method of measuring climate change's impact on local daily temperatures — and the 1991-2020 climate normals.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
450 homes near Pine Valley remain evacuated due to fire; more power shutoffs possible
PINE VALLEY, Washington County — Hundreds of people remain evacuated near Pine Valley as the Forsyth Fire continues to grow, fueled by strong winds and other 'critical' fire weather conditions. About 400 to 500 people were evacuated from Pine Valley, as well as the Pine Valley Campground, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Jenny Plecki said in an update Friday. She estimated that 450 homes were evacuated, half of which were occupied by full-time residents. One hundred firefighters remained at the scene Friday to battle the fire, which had grown to about 1,000 acres in size, Plecki added. She said more personnel are expected to arrive soon. It's still unclear what sparked the fire. State officials reported earlier Friday that no structures had been destroyed since the fire began. The update comes as heat, wind and low relative humidity remain in the forecast Friday, prompting the National Weather Service to list most of the state in a red flag warning. 'Critical' fire weather conditions may remain across most of the state through Saturday evening. The agency also issued a wind advisory for parts of western Utah, where gusts of up to 45-55 mph were forecasted for Friday ahead of a cold front that is forecast to lower temperatures this weekend. Meanwhile, Rocky Mountain Power, Utah's largest power provider, says it is monitoring the conditions and may temporarily cut power in parts of central and southern Utah until fire weather conditions improve. While the fast-growing Forsyth Fire began Thursday evening, a large fire burning near Bryce Canyon National Park also grew as wind and other factors 'significantly' increased fire activity in the area. The France Canyon Fire, Utah's largest wildfire so far this season, has now scorched 9,575 acres, doubling in size over the last few days, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Wind gusts of up to 30 mph fanned flames and forced firefighters to take a 'tactical pause,' the agency reported on Friday. Red flag conditions forecast for Friday and Saturday could pose additional problems. Over 500 personnel are assigned to battle against the wildfire, which remains 5% contained, but a complex incident management team has now been called in to bring more resources. The lightning-caused fire was first reported within Dixie National Forest on June 11. All Forest Service land south of state Route 12 within the Powell Ranger District remains closed. State and federal firefighters reported at least 10 new wildfire starts on Thursday; most were contained quickly. With strong wind gusts in the forecast through Saturday, Rocky Mountain Power says it may shut off power in some areas to prevent sparking new wildfires. It issued a 'Public Safety Power Shutoff Watch' for parts of southern and central Utah, extending up toward the southern end of the Wasatch Front. Communities like Dixie, Enterprise Valley, Cedar City, Milford, Panguitch, Richfield and Santaquin are mentioned in the advisory. Rocky Mountain Power officials say the outages are most likely to take place in those areas between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday. 'Community safety and reducing wildfire risk are our top priorities,' said Pete Singh, the company's incident commander, in a statement. 'We take the decision to turn off power very seriously. Public Safety Power Shutoffs will be targeted, precise and guided by real-time data from conditions on the ground.' While the U.S. Drought Monitor no longer lists any part of Utah in extreme drought for the first time in months, all parts of the state are now listed as 'abnormally dry' or in some level of drought, highlighting the potential fire danger.
Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
Summer nights in Salt Lake City are getting warmer
You're not imagining it: Your summer evening porch hangs are getting hotter. Why it matters: Higher overnight temperatures can have health consequences for vulnerable groups and boost air conditioning use. That, in turn, can strain electrical grids and increase energy demand, fueling a vicious cycle with more greenhouse gas emissions. Driving the news: Salt Lake City is among the U.S. locations that have seen the largest increases in summer nighttime temperatures between 1970 and 2024, according to a new report from Climate Central. By the numbers: 96% of 241 locations analyzed in the report saw a rise in evening temperatures, by 3.1 degrees on average. Salt Lake City's temperatures on average rose by 8.2 degrees. The latest: Rocky Mountain Power issued an advisory Wednesday, urging customers to conserve energy ahead of triple-digit temperatures hitting the valley, particularly during high-demand hours from 3 to 8pm. Zoom out: The higher temperatures in the evening are happening across much of the U.S. — especially in Nevada and other parts of the Southwest. Reno, Nevada (17.7 degrees), Las Vegas (10) and El Paso, Texas (8.9) saw the biggest increases. Between the lines: Hundreds of U.S. cities are experiencing more frequent warmer-than-average summer nights "with a strong climate change fingerprint," Climate Central says. That's based on the group's Climate Shift Index — a method of measuring climate change's impact on local daily temperatures — and the 1991-2020 climate normals.
CNET
6 days ago
- CNET
Summer Blackout To-Do List: 9 Things to Keep Everyone Cool and Safe
Climate Central reports that from 2014 to 2023, the US experienced 60% more power outages during the summer season than it did from 2000 to 2009. This can be due to the increased use of electricity for air conditioners, wildfires, severe weather and downed power lines. Being prepared for a summer blackout is especially important because, according to the US Energy Information Administration, the average blackout is over 5 hours. That means over 5 hours without air conditioning, which can lead to heat-related health complications. Fortunately, there are ways you can keep yourself and others physically and mentally cool when a summer blackout happens. 1. Prepare an emergency kit An emergency kit is simple to build and doesn't cost much money. You can even buy one at big-box retailers. They include Band-Aids, gauze, ointments, butterfly bandages and more. If you or someone else in your home takes medication, you'll also want to pack an extra supply into the kit. On top of this, you'll want to prepare for a prolonged summer blackout. Have at least one gallon of drinking water available per person for at least a few days. Also, consider buying a well-insulated cooler and storing ice packs in the freezer. These can help keep any medications requiring lower temperatures cool and can prevent you from overheating. You'll also want access to non-perishable food items. Keep a supply of canned goods, dry cereal, nuts, snacks and other shelf-stable items that don't require cooking. 2. Alert your utility company Have your utility company's number available to report the outage. While they might already know of your situation, informing them gives them a better idea of the outage's scope. In some instances, they might provide an estimate for when your power will return. This is vital information to have, as it can help prepare you for a prolonged outage if one happens. 3. Check on relatives, friends and neighbors If the summer blackout is widespread, affecting loved ones or friends, connect with them and see if they're OK. Outages can especially affect those with medical conditions, children and older adults. Therefore, ensuring they have a place to go with air conditioning and enough water is paramount. If the whole neighborhood is out of power, check with your local Red Cross or the news about nearby areas like libraries or schools that have power and are open to the public. These sanctuaries ensure people with medical conditions have someplace cool to rest until power is back on. doble-d/Getty Images 4. Stock up on food for longer outages For those living in areas with more inclement weather, preparing for prolonged outages is ideal. Along with following these tips, you'll want to inspect your fridge and freezer to toss food you can't properly store without power before it decays. If you can afford it, consider buying an ice chest to store frozen and refrigerated goods. And if you have a grill, you have an outside cooking source to use up meat and veggies before they expire. If you can't afford an ice chest, keep meats, fruits and vegetables in coolers. Moreover, if you live in areas where prolonged outages happen often, like Houston, you should consider a home generator. Although they are expensive, they can also provide a much-needed sanctuary when your home runs out of power and will be out for an extended period of time. 5. Have other light sources Store a flashlight in every room of your home. That way, when the power goes out, you'll have lighting in every room. If you don't want to mess with batteries, consider motion-powered options. However, if you select battery-powered flashlights, keep a fresh supply of batteries on hand. Alternatively, you could also use candles as light sources. Stock matchsticks or check on your lighter to ensure it works and doesn't need lighter fluid. Before lighting a candle, move around your room and check for gas leaks (if applicable).6. Install blackout curtains Blackout curtains achieve several goals. They prevent light from entering your room by blocking out UV rays and exterior light from other sources. They work as another layer of protection for rooms with blinds, where gaps can allow light to shine through. Since blackout curtains also reflect heat, they'll keep that area of your home cooler during a summer blackout. If you have someone with a medical condition or heat sensitivity, you'll want to place them in a room with blackout curtains during a power outage. 7. Wear cooling clothes When the power goes out, it won't take long for your home to heat up. One way to combat the heat is to wear cooling clothes, which dissipate heat and promote airflow, helping you to remain comfortable in an uncomfortable situation. Usually, cooling clothes have three properties: Breathable materials: By allowing for more airflow, these materials prevent sweat from sticking to your skin, so you'll cool off quickly. You should refrain from wearing fabrics containing wool or polyester since they'll make you sweatier. Moisture-wicking capabilities: When your body overheats, sweat is created to cool it down. However, if you're wearing non-cooling clothing, you'll be uncomfortable because the fabric won't remove the moisture from your skin. Cooling clothing achieves this by using hydrophobic fibers to repel the sweat from your clothing and skin, allowing your body to cool down without feeling bogged down. Temperature regulation: You'll want to wear clothes that evaporate sweat quickly, contain higher thermal connectivity and have thermal convection. When you put on a cooler material, your body feels cooler since heat goes from the warmest parts of your clothing to the coolest.8. Keep devices charged with portable chargers Having cell service is akin to a bodily function for most of us. However, when the lights go out and you don't have access to a power source, then anxiety can be induced. After all, you don't want a dead phone battery to prevent you from contacting friends and loved ones, and if you need them, emergency personnel. That's why you'll want to have backup charging solutions ready to go. Power banks are a wise choice if you keep them charged before an outage occurs. That way you can plug in your smartphone and remain connected. You can also buy battery-powered or hand-crank phone chargers. With either option, you don't have to worry about them being plugged in and powered before an outage. Just be sure to have fresh batteries on hand for battery-powered options. 9. Recognize the signs of heat stroke During hotter months, and especially when a summer blackout takes out your A/C, it's vital to know the signs of heat stroke. If you notice someone starting to feel disoriented or appear flushed, you'll want them to rest someplace cooler, apply a cold pack or towel to their skin and call 9-1-1. You don't want to give them water to drink, as they may be confused and unable to swallow safely. These are other symptoms of heat stroke to keep an eye out for, per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Slurred speech Loss of consciousness (coma) Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating Seizures Very high body temperature Also, if you have older neighbors or those with mobility disabilities, check on them regularly. Doing so can help you identify signs of heat stroke and address the situation before it becomes even more dangerous.
