Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — It's official: June was the hottest on record in the 147 years that the National Weather Service has tracked data in Salt Lake City.
The federal agency reported Thursday that Salt Lake City's average temperature throughout June was 80.2 degrees, which is the first time the average temperature in June has hit 80 degrees since the weather service began keeping track of the city's weather in 1874.
The previous record was 77.5 degrees set in 2015 and matched in 2016.
June has been a month for the record books, breaking several temperature records. Take a look at some of the more notable records for the month. 🌞#UTwx#RecordBreaking#JuneWeatherpic.twitter.com/3KR9mgdHr8
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) July 1, 2021
The June 2021 average also ended up an astounding 10.5 degrees above the normal set between 1981 and 2010, according to weather service data. The agency lists the June normal at 69.7 degrees.
The fact that 2021 was the hottest June in Salt Lake City history isn't much of a surprise. Multiple heat waves and temperatures that were above average most of the month made it clear that the record would be broken, but it wasn't as clear by how much until the month ended.
Here are some other Salt Lake City weather statistics from June 2021:
- It reached 100 degrees on June 4, making it the earliest on record that it reached triple-digit heat in city history.
- There were seven 100-degree days in June this year. That's six above normal and one shy of the record set in 1961. A late shift in weather patterns meant that another "heat dome" originally forecast to return over Utah ended up over the Pacific Northwest instead — preserving the 1961 record.
- It reached 107 degrees on July 15, tying the all-time temperature ever recorded in city history. Salt Lake City first reached its all-time max in 1961 and matched it in 2002. The previous June maximum temperature was 105 degrees set in 2013. Interestingly enough, the June 2021 minimum temperature was 46 degrees set only four days before it reached 107.
- With a minimum of 78 degrees on June 19, Salt Lake City matched the highest minimum temperature for a day in June history.
- There were five daily temperature records set during the month: June 3 (97 degrees), June 4 (100 degrees), June 13 (102 degrees), June 14 (103 degrees) and June 15 (107 degrees).
- Only 0.10 inches of rain was reported at the Salt Lake City International Airport. That's 0.85 inches below normal.
June figures to be among the hottest on record for the entire state but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is still calculating that data.
For instance, weather service data show its Salt Lake City branch's other Utah station, in Cedar City, posted an average temperature of 72.9 degrees, which is 6.3 degrees above the June normal there. The National Weather Service's Grand Junction, Colorado branch handles eastern Utah places. Its data show Moab's average temperature for the month was 4.6 degrees above normal and Vernal's was 5.4 degrees above normal.
The statewide data is expected to be released later this month.
For those curious, the July average temperature in Salt Lake City is 78.7 degrees. The record is 85.3 degrees, set in 2017. The summer average (June, July and August) from 1991 to 2020 is 77.3 degrees with a record of 80.9 degrees also set four years ago.
Salt Lake City's record for 100 degrees or more is 21, which was set in 1960 and matched in 1994.
