Moab is in the nestled in the Red Rock Country of eastern Utah. The weather is not excessively hot in the summer and only moderately cold in the winter. Average temperatures in late spring into early summer are (high/low): May 82,50, Jun 93/58, Jul 98/65, Aug 96/63, Sep 88/53, and Oct 75/41. Snow does fall during mostly the winter months with an average of 30-35 inches. This the somewhat warmer daytime temperature the snow usual melts in just a few days. Late fall into early spring temperature average: Nov 57/30, Dec 45/21. Jan 42/19, Feb 51/25, Mar 61/33 and Apr 71/42. The monsoonal season is July through about Labor Day when tropical moisture moves northward from Arizona into eastern Utah. The scattered showers and thunderstorms are mainly in the afternoon and evenings. Some produce very heavy rainfall in a short period of time which creates the potential of flash flooding in the dry washes and slot canyons. If you can hear thunder, lightning is nearby and take proper protection.
White-water Rafting is a great recreational activity on the Colorado or Green River. The rivers normally peak in late May into June with the highest flows with rafting that time of the year a great experience.
El Nino (ocean waters warmer than normal) and La Nina (ocean waters colder than normal) in the central Pacific Ocean influence storm track of winter storms. El Nino supports a southern latitude storm track and La Nina a northern-latitude storm track. Fortunately, east Utah is on the northern fringe of the southern storm track. The Book Cliffs that are north of Moab also assist in the “orographic” lift which enhances the precipitation. Therefore, a long range forecast with an El Nino conditions in the Pacific makes for a somewhat easier long range forecast.
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