Seattle sky blue as rain falls in Salt Lake

Salt Lake City is raining on Seattle's parade.

So far this month, the Utah capital has had more wet days than the king of rain in the Pacific Northwest. June will go into the record books as one of the wettest ever for northern Utah.

One-tenth of an inch of moisture or more fell at the Salt Lake Airport nine times this month, breaking the old record of eight set in June 1967.

With thunderstorms possible Thursday through Saturday and again on Tuesday, additional June moisture records could fall.

Rain fell on 16 days so far this month, one day behind the record of 17 measurable days with rain, also set in June 1967.

For total monthly moisture, the month is still lagging behind, at least at the airport, with only 2.33 inches of moisture as of Wednesday. That ranks sixth place all time, behind 1967 with 2.73 inches of rain. The wettest June on record is 1998 with 3.84 inches.

According to Dan Pope, KSL meteorologist, some places have already recorded all-time monthly June rainfall totals. He said Smithfield has received a record 5.23 inches of rain so far.

North Ogden is nearing a record with 4.73 inches of rain, just off the current high of 4.93 inches.

Southern Idaho too has also set some rainfall records with 4.7 inches in Preston and 5 inches in Montpelier.

Meanwhile, Seattle has had a near-record drought, logging just nine days of rain this month. As of Tuesday, Seattle had received just 0.15 of an inch of rain. Seattle also went a near-record 15 days without any moisture, from May 20 to June 4.

Phoenix has been unusually cool, staying below 100 degrees for 15 straight days and breaking the century mark just nine times through June 24. Phoenix's average June temperatures so far are almost three degrees below normal.

Salt Lake's fair skies Wednesday are expected to give way to partly cloudy skies and an overnight low of 62 degrees, according to the National Weather Service,

There's a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening. Thursday's high temperature is forecast to be a sizzling 95 degrees.

Friday is expected to be partly cloudy with a high dropping down to 78 degrees, but with a 40 percent chance of rain and/or thunderstorms.

Even Saturday has a 20 percent chance of showers.

Clear skies and near 90-degree temperatures are predicted for Sunday and Monday. But Tuesday, the final day of June and the last chance to set records, has a slight chance of showers.

E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com