The highs and lows (when it comes to weather) in 2024

The weather in 2024 in Utah was a street peddler of sorts, offering the glitter and glamour of bountiful snow at the beginning of the year, a hot summer, dry fall and a dismal outlook for snow this Christmas.

Shopping from a peddler has its risks: you never know what your going to get, how long it will last and, of course, there is a no return policy even if you feel cheated.

Here are a few takeaways on what the weather in Utah gave us in 2024:

1. Winter snow had a slow start in 2023, but it certainly picked up by the end of the accumulation season

By March, most of the state had 156% of normal for precipitation, bringing the seasonal average at that point to 117% — quite above the 100% mark. Reservoir storage was at 78% of capacity, giving water managers a chance to take a deep breath and relax, if even for a moment.

2. Hot days and some good rainstorms marked the entry into summer

Julie Cunningham, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, said the area saw 20 days with temperatures above 100 degrees. The typical is just four days. At the Salt Lake International Airport, it was 106 degrees one day, nearly meeting the record of 107 degrees. “I would say, overall, we saw a warmer than average year in 2024″. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for Pioneer Day, tracking temperatures that reached 103 degrees on the day Utah celebrates in a big way its heritage.

3. Utah’s monsoon season was typical this year, although people who had to endure its effects were not impressed with normal at all.

In one instance, a Utah County city saw nearly an inch of rain in just over 20 minutes, leading to some flooding. Of course, summer storms and the monsoon season carry the risk of lightning, which can spark fires. According to Utahfire, there were 1,259 fires that charred more than 90,000 acres. Of the fires that burned, 469 were termed “natural,” and responsible for a little more than 27,000 acres that burned.

4. Cunningham said Utah in many places experienced the warmest fall on record, jumping 6 to 8 degrees above normal.

The dry fall has given state water managers pause, but they can take some solace in reservoir storage. Many have above normal levels for this time of year. The statewide average is 75% full, slightly lower than last year’s storage during the same period. Reservoir storage remains well above the drought-driven lows of 2021-2022. “Reservoirs have been crucial in buffering us from recent droughts,” said Candice Hasenyager, director of the Division of Water Resources. “Promising storage levels now reflect favorable water years and ongoing conservation efforts, which are key to ensuring water security amid climate uncertainties.”

5. If the snowfall so far could be compared to a car, it could be a Flintstone mobile.

Precipitation has been in a series of lurches. It moves so far, then stalls out and winter needs some pedaling power to get it over its hump. While there have been storms that have dumped some snow in the mountains, only one of Utah’s basins has eclipsed 100% of normal — the Beaver area. The northeastern Uintas are trying to catch up at 90%. “We’ll be happy if we can see near-normal precipitation across the state,” Hasenyager said. “But we are off to a slow start for December.” Cunningham added that residents should resign themselves to a dry Christmas.

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