For the second year in a row, Salt Lake City experienced its hottest July on record, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service.
Overall, the average temperature in Utah’s capital last month was 87.3 degrees — 6.2 degrees above normal, and 1.6 degrees higher than in July 2021, the previous record-holder.
It hit 101 on Sunday, marking 21 days so far this year where the high has been 100 degrees or more. That 21-day count set a record in 1960 and was previously matched in 1994 and 2001.
With the rest of August still to come, the chances of another 100-plus day are pretty good, meteorologists say. Over the past 21 years, there has been at least one triple-digit day within the month of August on 12 separate occasions.
But according to the weather service, that’s unlikely to happen in the next week. Area highs aren’t expected to get close to triple digits for the next few days — expect 81 on Tuesday, 84 on Wednesday, 90 on Thursday, 87 on Friday and 86 on Saturday and Sunday.
July highs shattered another Salt Lake City record
Temperatures spiked to 100 degrees or higher on 18 days in July, breaking a 62-year-old record. Previously, the most 100-plus days in a single month in Salt Lake City was 15, set in July 1960.
The average high temperature during July 2022 was 99.7 — 5.7 degrees above normal — and highs were in the 90s or 100s every day. The average low was 74.9 — 6.7 degrees above normal.
The highest temperature last month was 107 on July 17, which tied the all-time heat record for the area; the lowest was 68 degrees on July 11.
The area received just 0.12 of an inch of precipitation, 0.37 of an inch below normal. Rain is expected this week, with a chance thunderstorms Thursday through Sunday.
Southern Utah sees monsoonal moisture
While Salt Lake City sweltered on Sunday, parts of central and southern Utah got drenched. There was street flooding in Cedar City, Moab and St. George.
There’s a chance of rain in Cedar City every day through Sunday, with temperatures in the 80s. Temperatures will be in the upper 90s and low triple digits in Moab, with at least a slight chance of thunderstorms through Sunday.
There’s also a chance of thunderstorms in St. George from Thursday through Sunday, and temperatures are expected to be in the upper 90s and low 100s.
The National Weather Service advised that flash floods are “possible” at Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Zion national parks on Tuesday, along with San Rafael Swell Recreation Area. Flooding is “not expected” Tuesday at other national parks and monuments in Utah.
