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Sam Penrod Reporting...It's still the month of May. But outside it feels like the fourth of July. The unseasonably, hot weather is catching many of us, off-guard and, forcing us to find ways to keep cool.
Swinging from a rope and into the cool water of the Provo River is a great way to beat the heat, but it's an option most of us don't have.
In fact, the temperatures can become deadly, within minutes, for children or animals left in a car. In a demonstration today, even with the car windows cracked, the temperature inside reached 130- degrees in less than five minutes.
Hot enough to fry this egg.
Temma Martin, Salt Lake County Animal Services: "ALREADY TODAY, IN THE LAST TWO HOURS WE'VE HAD THREE CALLS ABOUT DOGS LEFT IN CARS, AND THE RULE OF THUMB, IF ITS OVER 70 DEGREES NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR PET, LEAVE THEM AT HOME."
Police officers across the state are warning parents to never leave their children alone in a car. While it may only be a couple of minutes in a store parking lot, officers warn it's not any different than locking children inside a hot oven.
The unseasonably hot temperatures can also overload power circuits.
Late afternoon and early evening rushes to cool down homes with air conditioners has led to a few isolated cases of neighborhoods losing power.
Dave Eskelsen, Utah Power: "THERE MAY A FEW LOCAL CIRCUITS THAT SERVE A FEW DOZEN HOMES OR MORE THAT MIGHT EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS AS WE GET INTO THESE HIGH TEMPERATURES, AND ALSO PART OF THE PROBLEM THIS WEEK IS THAT THE HOT TEMPERATURES HAVE HIT EARLY, WE ARE TEN TO FIFTEEN DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL RIGHT NOW."
And it's important to check on elderly family members or neighbors and make sure they have what they need to stay cool, during the early arrival of summer temperatures.
Hundreds of senior citizens are already calling for help.
Joshua Pedersen/ Dir., 211 Info Bank: "SENIOR CITIZENS ARE CALLING US REQUESTING US TO START UP THEIR SWAMP COOLER TO GET IT GOING. WITH THIS ONSLAUGHT OF SUDDEN HEAT, THE NEED HAS BECOME MORE CRITICAL."
With the sizzling temperatures coming so fast, the Salt Lake Community Services Council is putting a call out for immediate volunteers to help install and repair swamp coolers.
Joshua Pedersen/Dir., 211 Info Bank: "WE'RE LOOKING AT A COUPLE DOZEN ONGOING VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE SKILLED AND ARE WILLING TO COMMIT THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER TO HOOK UP AND TAKE DOWN THE SWAMP COOLERS IN THE FALL."
If you're a senior citizen needing assistance with your swamp cooler call 2-1-1 for information. The group also needs swamp coolers donated, so if you have a spare...call 2-1-1 to hand it over to someone who might need it.
The heat has the division of air quality calling for a voluntary "no drive day" tomorrow to help keep ozone levels down.
