Nearly every observing site along the Wasatch Front reached 102° to 112°F today. These temperatures are measured inside a ventilated instrument shelter approximately 6 feet above a natural surface, shielded from direct sunlight and away from localized heat sources. The air temperature you experience, however, can vary significantly over short distances. Urban environments containing large amounts of concrete, asphalt, rooftops, parking lots, and buildings absorb and store enormous amounts of solar energy throughout the day. Those surfaces then reradiate heat back into the surrounding air, producing what’s known as the urban heat island effect. Surface temperatures on asphalt and concrete can easily exceed 150°F, dramatically increasing the heat you actually feel while standing nearby. Whether your thermometer read 102° or 112°, one conclusion is unavoidable. It was exceptionally hot today. #utwx