Weather warmer than usual for September

SALT LAKE CITY — Three new high temperature records were set Monday and another Utah record tied, as the unusual fall heat wave continues.

Zion National Park sizzled at a record 104 degrees Monday, breaking the old record of 101 degrees, set in 2003.

The Cedar City Airport baked under 91 degrees, to eclipse the old record of 88 degrees, set just last year. Milford was also 91 degrees Monday, passing its old record of 90 degrees, set in 1938.

The Provo-BYU weather station recorded 90 degrees Monday and that tied a record set back in 2001.

In addition, Alta, Provo-BYU, Cedar City and Milford had also hit all-time high temperature records on Sunday. Tooele and Zion both tied high temperature records for Sept. 26.

And, the state can expect more of the same, at least until this weekend.

"Not your typical late-September weather," Grant Weyman, KSL meteorologist said. "But with a massive high pressure in place, we're getting hotter than average temperatures. More of the same through Friday. More afternoon clouds over the weekend, and perhaps some mountain storms. It still looks like the warm weather lasts through the first October weekend."

KSL predicts a high of 88 degrees on Tuesday, 87 degrees on Wednesday and then highs in the mid 80s through next Monday.

The Salt Lake office of the National Weather Service is a little more conservative and has forecasted 85 degrees for Tuesday and then mid-80s through Friday, with an 80-degree reading on Saturday. It also predicts 78 degrees on Sunday and only 73 degrees on Monday, with a slight chance of thunderstorms.

Skies will remain clear through Thursday and then partly cloudy skies will dominate. KSL's Weyman says there is a chance of storms on Sunday, in the Salt Lake area.

Normal high temperatures for this time of year is about 73 degrees.

Overnight temperatures have been cooling down to the upper 40s and that is more normal for this time of year.

However, Weyman predicts lows to remain in the mid- to upper 50s overnight through early next week, while the NWS has forecasted a little warmer, in the low 60s, at night.

The latest ever 90-degree high in any year, at the Salt Lake International Airport, was hit on Sept. 30, 1957. That record doesn't appear in jeopardy at this point, with forecasts boasting a high in the mid- 80s that day. Yet, many other areas in the Beehive State could still establish new records through the weekend.

e-mail: lynn@desnews.com