Sandy residents should brace for a dangerous weekend. The National Weather Service has upgraded its earlier Extreme Heat Watch to an Extreme Heat Warning for Salt Lake County, in effect from noon Saturday, Aug. 1, through 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2.
The NWS forecast for Sandy calls for a high near 101°F on Friday, July 31, climbing to 104°F on Saturday and 103°F on Sunday. Those numbers approach existing daily records for the Wasatch Front, according to ABC4 Utah meteorologist Noah Price.
Overnight lows will barely dip below the mid-70s, meaning residents won't get adequate cooling relief between days. Friday night's low sits around 74°F; Saturday night around 76°F.
"The biggest thing is the lack of overnight cooling," NWS meteorologist Hayden Mahan told KSL NewsRadio on July 24, when a heat advisory was in effect for the same region. "Our overnight temperatures won't be cooling down very much — upper 60s to well into the 70s for a lot of locations."
The warning is the NWS's highest-tier heat alert. A heat dome settling over Utah is driving the extreme conditions, with no rain expected through the weekend. Patchy smoke may also be visible Friday morning.
What this means for Sandy outdoors
Anyone planning to hike Dimple Dell Regional Park's exposed trails should avoid peak afternoon hours. The NWS advises limiting strenuous outdoor activity during the warning period.
The Sandy Amphitheater at 1245 E. 9400 S. has no concerts scheduled this weekend. Real Salt Lake is away at St. Louis City SC on Saturday, so America First Field will be empty. RSL's next home match is Tuesday, Aug. 4, against Tigres UANL at 8 p.m. for Leagues Cup play.
How to stay safe
The NWS recommends residents drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned spaces, and check on elderly neighbors and relatives. Children, older adults, and people with medical conditions face the highest risk of heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
Salt Lake County operates "Cool Zones" at county facilities for residents without air conditioning. Current locations are listed at saltlakecounty.gov/mayor/cool-zones.
Context: a record-breaking summer
This weekend's heat follows a brutal July. Salt Lake City hit 109°F on July 13, breaking its all-time high-temperature record after 152 years of record-keeping, the Deseret News reported. The city also matched its highest overnight low (82°F) on July 28. NWS meteorologist Sam Webber attributed the persistent overnight warmth partly to urbanization, with asphalt and concrete holding daytime heat longer.
The continental U.S. has endured its second-hottest first half of the year on record in 2026, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.
The Extreme Heat Watch announced alongside Wednesday's severe thunderstorm on July 29 has now been upgraded to a full warning. Minor cooling may arrive early next week, but only by a few degrees. Rain chances remain slim until possibly the second week of August.
