April was cool and wet compared with historical averages for the month in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — The month of April in Salt Lake was "cool and wet," according to an official summary from the Salt Lake office of the National Weather Service.

While the average monthly temperature was just 1.1 degrees below normal, 20 of the month's 30 days featured below-normal temperatures. April 20 and 29 were the coolest days compared to typical temperatures for those days, with readings 14 degrees below the norm.

The warmest day of the month was April 19 at 79 degrees, as compared to the coldest daytime reading of 42 degrees on April 1.

April 4 had the coldest overnight low reading at 28 degrees.

Notwithstanding, the Salt Lake City International Airport set two high temperature records for the month: A record high minimum overnight reading of 52 degrees on April 11 and 55 degrees overnight on April 20. Both of those broke records set back in the 1980s.

April of 2010 was also wetter than normal at the airport, with 2.48 inches of moisture, or 123 percent of average.

The airport received 5.5 inches of snow in April, or 0.2 inches below the normal amount.

Statewide, the five recorded locations with the highest percentages of above normal rain/snow were: Fillmore (207 percent), Mountain Dell Dam (204 percent), Cedar City airport (203 percent), Alta (194 percent) and Wanship Dam (185 percent).

The two driest locations in the state, by far, were Hanksville and Goblin Valley — both with only a trace of moisture all during month (0 percent of normal).

Other bone-dry spots were: Alton (19 percent of normal), Brigham City (29 percent) and Kanab (32 percent).

e-mail: lynn@desnews.com