June may soak records for rain

Though June is more than halfway gone, it still feels like May outside.

June continues to be unusually wet. In fact, three more days of rain at the Salt Lake City International Airport this month would tie the all-time record for the month — 17 total days of measurable precipitation in 1967. As of Thursday, the airport has logged 14 soggy days this month.

And with 11 days to go, don't put the umbrella away, because the National Weather Service forecasts a 50 percent possibility of showers Saturday and 30 percent Sunday.

But then things change as rain clouds should give way to some sunshine. Monday through Thursday is predicted to be mostly sunny.

With only five more days in the month after that, the all-time June rain record may not be tied or beaten because June 28 is historically the driest day of the year in Salt Lake City. Rain has fallen only three times on that day in the past 100 years.

Moisture received at the airport through Wednesday measures 1.85 inches. Normal is 0.77 inches, so the unexpected rainy season has more than doubled that average, even as the airport measurement station has received less precipitation than many locations closer to the Wasatch Mountains.

May saw only 1.36 inches of moisture at the airport, or 65 percent of average, making June seem even wetter.

And the unusual weather feature isn't just rain; temperatures are milder, too.

So far this June, the average daily high temperature has been 73.9 degrees. That's only 0.1 degree warmer than May's average of 73.8, according to the National Weather Service.

For the average overnight lows, June so far is at 53.1 degrees, just 4 degrees higher than May's average of 49.1.

Wednesday's high only reached 62 degrees. A year ago, temperatures were in the 80s.

Friday's sunny skies are expected to inch the temperature to 82 degrees. June's hottest day so far was June 4, when the mercury rose to 85 degrees. The lowest daily temperature was 48 degrees on June 12.

Saturday is expected to be about 78 degrees and Sunday 80. Overnight lows will be in the 50s and 60s.

By Monday, Salt Lake City is expected to be near 80 degrees and climb to 89 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday. Can the 90s be far behind? Maybe it depends on whether June stays all wet.

E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com