Cooler weather on the way

Cool and somewhat dry is how the National Weather Services officially describes Salt Lake weather in October.

The average high temperatures for the month was 59.5 degrees (4.5 degrees below normal) and the nighttime low average was 39.2 degrees (1.8 degrees below the normal).

The warmest day last month in Salt Lake City was 81 degrees on Oct. 18 and the coldest was 27 degrees on Oct. 29.

The Salt Lake Airport received just 1.18 inches of moisture for the month, 75 percent or normal. Even the monthly snowfall was well below average. Just 0.5 inches of snow fell, 24 percent of the normal 2.1 inches.

Despite the arid conditions in the capital city, some Utah locations did manage to exceed normal precipitation for the month.

For example, the Bountiful Val Verda area received 2.76 inches of moisture, or 127 percent of normal. Centerville had 2.49 inches or 106 percent of normal.

Randolph, Rich County, received 1.95 inches of moisture, 171 percent of normal for that location.

Logan and Pineview Dam were the only other two areas in the state to exceed average moisture totals for October.

On the other end of the spectrum, Delta was the driest place in the state during October with 0.07 inches of moisture, or 7 percent of normal.

Alton, Hanksville, Orem, Richmond, Nephi, Fillmore, Altamont, Cedar City and Castle Dale all received less than 50 percent of their normal moisture for the month.

So far, November is off to a warm start with temperatures more typical of early October. Every day in Salt Lake City this month has reached the 60 degrees or higher. The average for this time of year is about 49 or 50 degrees.

Cedar City is even warmer, having set two all-time high temperature records — 75 degrees on both Nov. 3 and Nov. 4, breaking records set in the 1970s.

Alta set a high temperature record too, on Nov. 4, reaching 62 degrees, to break the old record of 58, set in 2001.

Looking ahead, after highs expected to reach in the low 70s Thursday, Salt Lake City will cool to 62 degrees Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Low temperatures will reach 44 degrees Thursday night and 39 on Friday night.

Saturday's expected high is 56 degrees, with a 30 percent chance of rain.

Sunday also has a 30 percent chance of rain, with mostly cloudy skies and an expected high of 49 degrees. The snow level will lower from 6,500 feet Sunday morning to 5,400 feet in the afternoon.

Temperatures next week will be in the low to mid 50s with another chance of Tuesday night and Wednesday.

e-mail: lynn@desnews.com