Utah forecast: A sizzling, baking, downright toasty weekend

Time to tug on the wide-brimmed hat, slather on some sun screen and, if you are so inclined, fry up some eggs on the proverbial blistering hood of that pickup truck: Utah is in for a hot Father's Day weekend.

The National Weather Service predicted temperatures well in excess of 100 degrees for southern Utah and highs only a little cooler for the northern half of the state Sunday and into Monday.

It all started with a 103-degree high forecast for the southern edge of the state on Saturday, triple-digit temperatures expected to have sizzling encores on Sunday and Monday as well. Mostly clear skies and evening breezes of 15-25 mph also were expected.

Along northern Utah's Wasatch Front, highs were to range into the upper-80s to mid-90s, again under mostly clear skies and nary a drop of rain on the horizon to cool the atmosphere. Evening winds in the 10-20 mph range were also expected.

Mix such hot temperatures with the state's lengthening dry spell, which has left the high deserts, rangelands and forests tinder-dry, and you have extreme danger for wildfires. Three-quarters of Utah, stretching from Wendover on the Nevada border, the northwestern Utah state line with Idaho and running south to the St. George area and then east to encompass most of southern and eastern Utah, was under a "Red Flag" warning.

Open fires — except for campgrounds in approved areas — were banned statewide on all public lands, along with fireworks, through the weekend and into Monday.

Salt Lake City's high Sunday was expected to hit 97, up from Saturday's 87, while the temperature Monday was expected to hit 95 degrees; Ogden looked for 94, 85 and 91; Provo 97, 90 and 95; Logan 92, 85 and 86; Wendover 97, 86 and 91; Duchesne 91, 85 and 89; Cedar City 93, 92 and 92; St. George 103 degrees all three days; and Moab 100, 96 and 100 degrees.

remims@sltrib.com