How to Determine the Weather in Salt Lake City

There are several ways to determine the weather in Salt Lake City. There are three main categories: temperature, precipitation, and humidity. Knowing which type of weather is best for your lifestyle will help you make informed decisions about moving to this city. This information is useful for a wide range of purposes, including growing seasons, preparing for winter, and enjoying the great outdoors in the summer.

Temperature

The city of Salt Lake City in Utah, US, has four distinct seasons. The region receives most of its precipitation from the Pacific Ocean, which contributes to storms during the autumn and winter. The Great Salt Lake, which is the largest lake in the world, also contributes to precipitation in the summer, when monsoon moisture moves north from the Gulf of California. The city is also sheltered from polar highs by the Rocky Mountains.

The city experiences warm winters and cool summers. The average temperature in the winter is about four degrees lower than in summer. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of -10 degF. January is colder than average and has been as cold as January 1978. On April 29, 2007 the high temperature in the city was 89 degrees, a record for April. The high temperatures were tempered by occasional thunderstorms. On average, there are 5 days in a year that are above 100 degrees, 23 days above 95 degrees, and 56 days above 90 degrees. The city also has low humidity, which creates perfect conditions for radiational cooling.

Precipitation

Precipitation in Salt Lake City varies throughout the year. The wettest month is April, while the driest is July. The city experiences a total precipitation of 19.5 inches annually. Spring, summer and autumn are the wettest seasons, with summer accounting for about three-quarters of the total.

Precipitation is typically mild, with the highest humidity levels occurring from March through May. The lowest temperatures and humidity occur during June through mid-September. Major sources of precipitation are the Pacific Ocean and the Pineapple Express created in Hawaiian waters. During the late fall, the Pacific Ocean kicks in, increasing precipitation. In addition, remnants of tropical cyclones in the East Pacific occasionally make it to Utah, bringing heavy tropical rains with them. The city experiences few other weather events, and those that do occur are usually short-lived and sporadic.

Humidity

The average humidity in Salt Lake City varies little during the course of a year. The relative humidity index measures the percentage of the time when the local temperature feels muggy, oppressive, or miserable. This index also accounts for the moderate seasonal changes in wind speed. Although summers are significantly hotter than winters, Salt Lake City is not as humid as the surrounding desert areas.

The summer monsoon rises from Mexico and Arizona. The resulting heat brings intense thunderstorm activity and in rare cases, tornadoes. A 1999 F2 tornado in downtown Salt Lake City killed one person and caused extensive damage. In addition to tornadoes, many of the summer thunderstorms in Utah are composed of dry lightning. As a result, fires in the surrounding mountains are extremely hot and the smoke from them can reach the city.

Growing season

The growing season in Salt Lake City usually lasts 6.4 months, or 196 days. It rarely begins before March 26, and it rarely ends before October 12 or November 15. This length of growing season means that the soil is generally warm and the temperatures are relatively moderate. To determine the best time to plant a vegetable, you should first determine its hardiness zone. Then choose your vegetable seed based on the growing season for that area.

The average yearly temperature in Salt Lake City is 52.1 degrees Fahrenheit (11.2 degrees C). The warmest month of the year is July, and the coolest is January. The predominant average hourly wind direction varies from west to south. During the winter, winds can reach 6.6 miles per hour.