4 Billion Years On

Utah Climate – June 2026 Update

Top 5 Cities: Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo, West Jordan, and Orem

This month in numbers

Utah experienced its 8th warmest June on record, with an average temperature of 20.72°C, which is 2.7°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. The maximum temperature for June was 29.44°C, ranking as the 11th highest on record. Looking at the broader picture, the April–June 2026 period also ranked as the 8th warmest on record, with an average temperature of 14.66°C, a 2°C anomaly. Precipitation for June was significantly below average at 4.83 mm, ranking as the 67th driest June on record. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest June for land temperatures, and the April–June period was the 2nd warmest on record for global land temperatures.

What changed

Utah's consistently warm temperatures this spring and early summer stand in contrast to the national average, which saw a +1.6°C anomaly in June compared to Utah's +2.7°C. The state's 12-month rolling anomaly places it as the 1st warmest of 234 regions tracked, highlighting a significant and persistent warming trend. This prolonged warmth has contributed to a deepening drought across the state, with reservoir storage averaging 68% full, 7% lower than the normal for this time of year.

What’s driving change?

The current weak El Niño phase, with a Niño 3.4 SST anomaly of +1.8°C in early July, is a significant factor in the elevated temperatures. El Niño events typically bring warmer conditions to Utah, and this one is forecast to persist and potentially strengthen through the end of the year. The ongoing drought and are also contributing to the increased fire potential, with lower fuel moisture levels leading to an earlier and more active wildfire season. Utah has experienced an unusual concentration of wildfires recently, with four active events in the past month representing 100% of the annual total for the last 12 months. This has led to over 404 fires burning 346,871 acres so far in 2026, surpassing the cumulative total of the previous five years combined. Additionally, a flash flood warning was issued for Sevier County in late June due to heavy rainfall over a burn scar, highlighting the dual threat of dry conditions and intense precipitation. More information on extreme weather can be found at Extreme Weather tracker and on ENSO at ENSO.

Looking ahead

The Climate Prediction Center's long-range models suggest that Utah could benefit from increased monsoon activity over the next few weeks and months, which could help dampen the fire season, although drought conditions are likely to persist.

Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources

At a Glance

Temperature – Average

Utah
United States
Global
Land + Ocean
Jun
+2.7°C· 8th
20.7°C
+1.2°C· 13th
21.5°C
+1.0°C· 2nd
16.6°C
Record
22.2°C (2021)
22.5°C (2021)
16.7°C (2024)
Apr–Jun
+2.0°C· 8th
14.7°C
+1.3°C· 4th
16.9°C
+1.0°C· 2nd
15.8°C
Record
15.1°C (2000)
17.1°C (2012)
15.9°C (2024)
2025
+2.4°C· 1st
11.0°C
+1.5°C· 4th
12.6°C
+1.0°C· 3rd
15.0°C
Record
11.0°C (2025)
13.1°C (2024)
15.2°C (2024)
Headline: anomaly vs the 1961–1990 mean · Small figure: the actual value · Record = highest (or lowest) value on record

Climate Map – USA

Window

Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance — US states & climate regions (tavg, pcp). Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) or 1991–2020 (rainfall). See methodology.

Year-on-Year Trends

The 4byo Climate Helix – Utah

1950202619611990 baselineColdest (1975)20162025 meanWarmest (2025)2026 so far
2026Jun
2025
WinterSpringSummerAutumnJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1950-792016-25Spr Start−8 daysAut End+2 days-5°10°15°20°25°
Temp
9.8°C
+1.1 vs base
Rainfall
114mm
-234 vs base
ENSO
ONI 3-mo mean
Playback
8×
Mode
Metric
Presets

Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.

Utah – Monthly Temperature – All Years

Metric
All years since 19872025 (warmest)2026 (current year)

Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.

Records – Utah

Warmest year
2025
11.0°C
Coldest year
1975
7.6°C
2026 so far
#1/77
9.8°C

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean

Shifting Seasons

Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Dfa · Continental

How spring and autumn have shifted in Utah. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (8.6°C, from 19501979); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 25.8°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.

Shifting summer
10 days longer
Warm season
1950–1979 baseline: 25 Apr → 21 Oct · 179 days
2016–2025 now: 17 Apr → 23 Oct · 189 days
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Spr 8 days earlierAut 2 days later
baseline yr·recent yr·ring = global temp anomaly

Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Jun (+2.2°C).

Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.

Rainfall & Precipitation

Rainfall & Rain Days – Totals

Rainfall / Precipitation
Utah
United States
Jun
-16 mm· 67th
5 mm
+9 mm· 24th
82 mm
Record
54 mm (1969)
97 mm (1989)
Apr–Jun
-7 mm· 48th
20 mm
+5 mm· 29th
75 mm
Record
54 mm (1995)
98 mm (1957)
2025
-84 mm· 68th
263 mm
-27 mm· 55th
743 mm
Record
510 mm (1983)
887 mm (1973)
Headline: anomaly vs the 1961–1990 mean · Small figure: the actual value · Record = highest (or lowest) value on record

Climate Systems

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Emissions & Energy

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Explore Climate Data

Data Sources

Data Sources for Utah

Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.

FAQs

FAQs

How is the climate in Utah changing?

Utah is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.

Where does the climate data for Utah come from?

Climate data for Utah comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.

What is the climate baseline used on this page?

Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.

Which areas does the Utah climate data cover?

The Utah climate profile covers Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo, West Jordan and surrounding areas. Utah climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance

How often is the Utah climate update refreshed?

The Utah climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.