Summer lingers; rain a no-show

SALT LAKE CITY — Summer won't let go in Utah and temperatures well above normal are expected into October.

The calendar may say late September, but the weather is going to be more like August again starting this weekend. According to the Salt Lake Office of the National Weather Service, Salt Lake may still reach at least one more 90 degree reading next week.

On Tuesday, their forecast is for a high of 90 degrees, more than 15 degrees above the long-term average for the day.

Friday will top out around 80 degrees, Saturday will warm to 84, Sunday 87 and Monday 89 degrees.

Even Wednesday and Thursday of next week are expected to be in the upper 80s, while normal temperatures would be in the mid-70s.

Overnight lows will remain cool, however and dip into the mid- to upper-50s.

The latest-ever recorded 90 degree for a high in Salt Lake was on Sept. 30, 1957 and that record could be challenged next week.

Dan Pope, KSL meteorologist, said some areas of Utah will likely set high temperature records next week.

KSL's forecast for next week is slightly more conservative than that released by the Weather Service, with highs of 88 degrees predicted for Monday and Tuesday of next week, with an 87 on Wednesday and 85 on Friday,

Sixteen of September's 24 days so far in Salt Lake have been well above normal in temperature.

The Salt Lake International Airport has also remained very dry for the month, with only 0.9 of an inch of moisture received so far. That's only about 9 percent of normal; 0.98 inches of moisture is the long-term average for a September.

With sunny skies predicted through the end of the month, there's little chance of more rain. September 2010 will likely end as one of Salt Lake's driest ever fall months.

e-mail: lynn@desnews.com SALT LAKE CITY — Summer won't let go in Utah and temperatures well above normal are expected into October.

The calendar may say late September, but the weather is going to be more like August again starting this weekend. According to the Salt Lake Office of the National Weather Service, Salt Lake may still reach at least one more 90 degree reading next week.

On Tuesday, their forecast is for a high of 90 degrees, more than 15 degrees above the long-term average for the day.