Parched

Source: thefreedictionary.com

As we discussed on Wednesday, this cool season (Nov-Apr) was the third driest in the past 75 years based on the statewide average precipitation. We are now following up that cool season with what looks to be a very dry May.  This is not unusual in extreme southern Utah.  Climatologically, May is the second driest month of the year in St. George with an average precipitation of 0.37 inches.  At Salt Lake City, however, May is the third wettest month with an average precipitation of 1.76 inches.  Yet this year, only .24 inches has fallen thusfar this month, and there's not much hope for a good soaker in the forecast.   

Other than perhaps some very widely scattered showers today, mainly east of the Wasatch Mountains, it looks bone dry through early next week.  

A weak trough sneaks through on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Perhaps it can initiate some action, but right now it looks mainly dry.

And the long range?  It's not impossible that something sneaks in here, but most of the long-range ensembles call for this pattern to persist.  This is reflected in the Climate Prediction Center 8–14 day outlook, which shows that the dice are loaded for below average precipitation over Utah and the southwest US.

Source: NOAA/NWS/CPC

Thus, the weather word for today is parched.