The Silver King Fire burns near homes in Piute County on Sunday, July 7, 2024. The fire has burned more than 10,800 acres. (Photo courtesy of Utah Fire Info)
As thousands of acres burn in south-central and south Utah, the Salt Lake City office of the National Weather Service released warnings for dangerous heat levels and critical fire weather.
On Tuesday afternoon the office expects winds gusting to 30 miles per hour and very dry conditions, the National Weather Service wrote in a post on X, prompting red flag warnings for the Central Utah mountains and Color Country mountains. “Any new fire starts or existing fires may spread quickly under these conditions,” the post reads.
Simultaneously, the weather forecast office issued a moderate dangerous heat warning, peaking late this week.
In the far southern Utah valleys, including lower Washington County, Zion National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Areas, temperatures may reach 110-115 degrees through Friday. All other Utah valleys, including the Wasatch Front, are expected to have hot temperatures through Saturday with 100-106 degree peaks.
A long duration heat wave is underway, with dangerous heat already being observed in the valleys of far S UT. As high pressure builds, the extreme heat will spread northward, with dangerous heat possible for most valleys across UT for the middle to latter part of the week. #utwx pic.twitter.com/pWAwvcxmzC
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) July 7, 2024
“This is a long duration, dangerous heat wave. Warm overnight temperatures can cause heat stress to build for those without adequate cooling access and/or adequate hydration,” the weather service said on its website, advising Utahns to hydrate, wear lightweight and light-colored clothing, take frequent breaks in air conditioning or shade, and avoid outdoor activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Deer Springs Fire that was discovered at 1 p.m. Sunday near Bryce Canyon expanded to more than 15,000 acres as of Monday afternoon, according to calculations from the Utah Wildfire Information office. No evacuations have been called. Though the cause is still unknown, the fire appears to be human caused.
The Silver King fire, a few miles outside of Marysvale in south-central Utah, was first reported on Friday, when it was between 30 and 50 acres. That wildfire is now affecting more than 10,000 acres and “exhibiting extreme fire behavior,” according to the state.
Both fires were 0% contained as of Monday. The National Weather Service said that smoke plumes from both fires are not forecasted to leave the area anytime soon.
Smoke plumes from #SilverKing and #DeerSprings are not forecast to leave the area anytime soon. Here’s a look at the forecast at where the plumes will go through tomorrow. #UTwx #UTfire pic.twitter.com/VhN58WVkAy
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) July 8, 2024
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