Weather: Saturday heat breaks record in Salt Lake City

Saturday's heat in Salt Lake City broke a record set in 1881.

The record of 92 degrees set more than a century ago was eclipsed by early afternoon at the Salt Lake City International Airport when the thermometer registered 93 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

So far, Utah's capital city is following the trend from May, which was warmer and drier than normal. A monthly climate report issued by the NWS showed the average maximum temperature during the month was 73.9 degrees and the average minimum was 49. The normal values for the month are 71.9 and 47.8 degrees, respectively.

And precipitation during May was less than half of normal — 0.72 inches compared to the 1.95 inches that usually falls during the month.

This year's precipitation total is all the more startling compared to the 5.14 inches that fell in May 2011.

Saturday's occasional thunderstorms and heat were to give way Sunday and Monday to clearer skies and drier and even hotter temperatures in northern Utah.

The Wasatch Front looked for highs in the low 90s on Sunday and the mercury was to climb a couple degrees on Monday.

In the southern reaches of the state, however, the weekend's forecast going into Monday was for hot, dry and occasionally breezy weather. Highs were to range into the low triple-digits.

Air quality statewide was graded "green," or healthy, according to the Utah Division of Environmental Quality.

Salt Lake City looked for a high of 91 Sunday, while Monday's high was pegged at 95; Ogden was to hit 88 and 92, respectively; Provo 92 and 93; Logan 92 and 93; Wendover 93 and 93; Duchesne 85 and 87; Cedar City 89 and 87; St. George 102 and 97 and Moab 95 and 96 degrees.

remims@sltrib.com