Discover the Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in Utah

Utah is a land of extremes. Huge numbers of people travel to Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas. There, they experience some of the country’s biggest and best ski resorts. Yet, the low-lying places in the state are dry and hot. Some regions in Utah can be downright unforgiving in the summer months. Take a look at the hottest temperature ever recorded in Utah and see just how extreme the heat can get.

Utah’s Climate and Temperature Norms

Utah has several different climate types due to the state’s vast differences in elevation and topography. The three most common Köppen–Geiger climate classifications in this state include:

• Cold semi-arid
• Hot semi-arid
• Hot-summer humid continental

The majority of the state has hot and dry summers with cold winters with little precipitation. However, some of the areas with a humid continental climate have warm to hot summers. Furthermore, the humid continental climate areas have very cold, long, and wet winters. Those areas are the best for skiers because it means that snow will accumulate and last in the area.

On average, Utah has cold winters and hot summers. In Salt Lake City, the temperatures fall to about 21 °F as a low, and they rise to a high of 90.6 °F as a high in July, the state’s hottest month. That area represents a good medium in the state. That is hardly the hottest region in the state, though.

St. George, Utah has temperatures that skyrocket during the summer. Check out the mean maximum temperatures in this location over the summer months.

It should come as no surprise that this is one of the places with the highest average temperatures in the state. Again, Utah is a land of extremes for both heat and cold, so it’s time to look at the record for the highest temperature in the state.  

What Was the Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in Utah?

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Utah was 117 °F, and this temperature was recorded on July 5, 1985, as well as July 10, 2021. The interesting thing is not that the state’s hottest temperature occurred twice but that it occurred in the same spot both times.

On each occasion, the temperature rose to 117 °F in St. George. The most recent high temperature was captured during a summer that was hotter than usual throughout North America.

Still, the chances were always good that Utah’s highest temperature would be recorded in this city. The city is in the northeastern part of the Mojave Desert, directly amid several topographical features that make this area bake in the summer. This city is the hottest in the state both by average and the occurrences of the highest temperatures recorded in the state.

Despite the area’s propensity for hot temperatures, the city continues to grow. Some residents attend the local Utah Tech University while others want to be near the amazing state parks in the region.

Where Is St. George on a Map?

If you’re looking for the hottest place in Utah, the best place to start is by looking at the southwest part of the state. St. George is in Washington County, Utah along the southern border with Arizona. The city is east of the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area which lies on the western border with Nevada.

Interstate 15 runs from Las Vegas, Nevada through the northwest corner of Arizona before passing through St. George in Utah. Finding this city is not too difficult given its size and location. However, using the map above will make matters even easier.

Was Utah’s Hottest Temperature the Hottest in the U.S.?

No, Utah’s hottest temperature is not the hottest temperature recorded in the United States. Utah’s record for temperature was 117 °F. However, the highest temperature in the country was 134 °F, and it occurred at Furnace Creek, California.

Furnace Creek was formerly called Greenland Ranch, and it is located in Death Valley. The Death Valley region has a very low elevation and low humidity along with geographical and topographical features that make the area perfect for record-setting temperatures to occur.

The 134 °F temperature is not just the highest in the U.S., though. It is the highest temperature on record for the planet. However, the record-setting temperature happened in 1913. Based on the available tools and the individual that took the measurement, a few climatologists are not convinced the record was accurate.

For now, the high temperature in Death Valley stands as the official hottest temperature according to the World Meteorological Organization.

What Animals Thrive in Utah’s Hottest Area?

Many animals live throughout Utah. Some of them can stand the heat in the St. George area of the Mojave Desert. Consider a few of the most interesting creatures that thrive in this area.

Mountain Lions

Mountain lions are large mammals that regularly hunt deer, rodents, and a host of other creatures. They are typically nocturnal or crepuscular, so they can sleep away the hottest portions of the day while staying in mountain alcoves.  

Desert Tortoise

The desert tortoise stays in underground burrows, avoiding both predators and hot temperatures. They eat grass, herbs, and other plants in their region.

Bobcats

Bobcats are medium-sized felines that ambush their prey. They can feed on birds, some snakes, and a variety of rodents. They often live in rocky areas with some sort of cover, like thick brush, so they can stay out of the heat and hunt.

Mojave Desert Sidewinder

The Mojave Desert sidewinder is a venomous snake. Unlike many other snake species, the sidewinder will dig into the sand, cover itself, and wait for its prey to approach. They can use the sand to cover themselves or other burrows to beat the heat.

Although the hottest temperature ever recorded in Utah may not have set a world record, it’s still hotter than most other places. However, people and animals both live in this area. St. George is a large and thriving city, and the area around it is filled with all manner of interesting, well-adapted animals.  

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Martina Birnbaum/Shutterstock.com