June has dark cloud over it

June has sprung a leak.

That's how KSL-TV weathercaster Len Randolph refers to northern Utah's recent unusually wet weather pattern.

Indeed, the month's rainfall totals at the Salt Lake Airport are already well above normal and no end is in sight to this sogginess until at least the middle of next week, according to the National Weather Service:

"Unsettled weather will continue into next week with a chance for showers and thunderstorms across at least a portion of the area each day" through Wednesday.

Rainfall for the month already surpassed normal at 1.02 inches. June precipitation averages .77 of an inch. KSL weatherman Dan Pope said the wettest June recorded was 3.84 inches in 1998.

"Climatologically, the chance for daily precipitation runs 20 to 30 percent until about the 15th of June," Pope said, "and then it drops off dramatically between the 15th and the 25th to about 8 to 15 percent chance. Then, the 28th just stands out there as the driest day of the year with a 3 percent chance."

Temperatures will also remain cool through at least Wednesday, with lower to mid-70s being the daytime highs in the Salt Lake Valley. Overnight lows will remain in the mid- to upper 50s.

Wednesday's temperature in Salt Lake only reached 66 degrees, compared to the normal high of 80.

"We're not in unprecedented territory yet," Pope said.

The record total measurable days of rain in a June is 1967 with 17 days. There have been seven so far this year and another six days forecast. If it rains every day until June 20, this year would tie the all-time June rainy day record.

Three or four more days of .10 of an inch of moisture or more could break other June rainfall records too.

Since Wednesday morning, portions of the Salt Lake each bench have been dumped on with as much as 1.74 inches of moisture, while the airport has only received 0.17 of an inch. Roy received 0.81 of an inch of moisture and Magna 0.72.

Utah water resource officials are reminding residents to turn off sprinkler systems for at least the next week.

"There has been plenty of precipitation with more over the next few days in the forecast to keep our lawns and plants watered," said Eric Klotz, water conservation and education chief with the Utah Division of Water Resources.

The division and many of the state's water providers have received numerous complaints from residents about their neighbors, and especially local businesses, running sprinklers during this wet period.

A weekly watering guide for each county is published by the division on its Web site: www.conservewater.utah.gov.

E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com