Record heat for Pinedale

by Amy Servantez

Over the past week the town of Pinedale has been in a heat wave — and there’s more to come as summer officially begins today.

Temperatures have been above average for this time of year, which are typically around 70 degrees.

Although it will not be made official until the end of the month, a new record has been set. On Saturday temperatures peaked at 88 degrees out at the Pinedale airport, the previous record was 82 degrees and set in 1986.

Chris Jones, of the National Weather Service in Riverton, said several factors have played a key role is causing the rise in temperatures.

“You have heat from the desert Southwest making its way North and the wind boosting temperatures a couple degrees,” Jones explained.

This week, Jones expects temperatures again to be record-breaking or come close, with Wednesday being the warmest day of the week.

With the heat wave continuing on, Jones said the humidity level is a good indication of just how hot and dry this week has been.

“The dew point is a good indication of the temperatures,” he said “Last week in Big Piney, it was negative two.”

Because of the low humidity levels, Jones warns of the higher potential for wildfires. “If people go out into the high country be mindful to the fact it’ll be hot and dry with some wind so just monitor any fires that you may start,” Jones said.