WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO RUN IN UTAH?
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Content
How to Run
in the Summer
How to Run
in the Winter
Understanding
Air Quality
Weather Data
by Utah Region
How do you know when to run in UTah?
In a lot of areas in Utah it is possible to run outdoors for most of the year; you just have to know how to do it!
How to Run in the Summer
The three big things to pay attention to when running in the hot summer months are temperature, time of sunrise, and air quality.
- Temperature:
- You don’t want to run outside when it’s too hot, it’s best to go at times of the day when the heat is lower. Pay attention to temperature and dress appropriately and bring an appropriate amount of water accordingly.
- Sunrise:
- The time of sunrise is something to pay attention to in the hot summer months because the coolest temperatures will be before the sun has risen. Summertime may be when you want to begin the habit of waking up and running early in the morning.
- Air Quality:
- Air quality can get bad in the summertime because the heat traps in some of the pollution in the atmosphere. Just make sure to run indoors with filtered air on the days that it’s too dangerous to workout outside.
How to Run in the Winter
The most important things to pay attention to when running in the winter are temperature, sunrise and sunset, precipitation (or rain), snow, and air quality.
- Temperature:
- Know what temperature it will be when you are running and dress appropriately. Below 32 degrees is cold…but below 20 degrees means you should have several layers on including something for your head and hands.
- Sunrise & Sunset:
- The best times to run in the winter are typically after sunrise and before sunset as this tends to be the timeframe that is the warmest. You should also know what times the sun rises and sets to ensure you’re prepared to run in the dark if you go out close to one of those times. This means bringing a headlamp and wearing reflective clothing.
- Precipitation:
- Rain shouldn’t effect your run very much, but you’ll want to know if it’s going to rain because a waterproof top layer will help keep you warmer longer.
- Snow:
- Knowing when and how much it will snow will help you prepare both with clothing and with shoe choice. If there is snow on the ground you will likely want spikes to help give you traction on the run. Be sure to not go out during a blizzard or when snowfall is dangerous for any reason.
- Air Quality:
- Air quality can get bad in the wintertime because of the inversion here in Utah. Have a backup plan for running indoors or doing a different indoor workout on the days the air quality is unsafe for outdoor runners.
Understanding Air Quality
The pollutants and levels that affect the active outdoors include:
- Any pollutant: code red or higher
- Ozone: code orange or higher
- Sulfur dioxide: code orange or higher
Index Value
Level of Health Concern
What it Means
301 – 500
Hazardous
Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
201 – 300
Very Unhealthy
Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects.
151 – 200
Unhealthy
Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
101 – 150
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
51 – 100
Moderate
Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
0 – 50
Good
Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
Temperature, Rainfall, Snowfall, Sunrise/Sunset, and Air Quality Data
See the average temperatures, rainfall, snowfall, sunrise/sunset, and air quality in different popular area of Utah each month of the year!
Salt Lake Area
January
Average Temperature
- High 38 F
- Low 26 F
Average rainfall
- 1.46 in
Average snowfall
- 11 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:38 – 7:51 am
- Set: 5:10 – 5:43 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 1.5 red
February
Average Temperature
- High 44 F
- Low 31 F
Average rainfall
- 1.5 in
Average snowfall
- 10 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:03 – 7:37 am
- Set: 5:44 – 6:17 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0.5 red
March
Average Temperature
- High 53 F
- Low 38 F
Average rainfall
- 2.2 in
Average snowfall
- 6 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:01 – 7:12 am
- Set: 6:18 – 7:51 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
April
Average Temperature
- High 61 F
- Low 43 F
Average rainfall
- 2.32 in
Average snowfall
- 3 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:27 – 7:11 am
- Set: 7:52 – 8:22 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 10.3 red & orange
May
Average Temperature
- High 47 F
- Low 52 F
Average rainfall
- 2.09 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 5:59 – 6:26 am
- Set: 8:23 – 8:51 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0.2 orange
June
Average Temperature
- High 82 F
- Low 61 F
Average rainfall
- 1.14 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 5:55 – 5:59 am
- Set: 8:52 – 9:02 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 6.4 orange
July
Average Temperature
- High 90 F
- Low 69 F
Average rainfall
- .59 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 5:59 – 6:23 am
- Set: 8:44 – 9:02 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 6 orange
August
Average Temperature
- High 89 F
- Low 67 F
Average rainfall
- 0.71 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:24 – 6:53 am
- Set: 8:01 – 8:43 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 2.4 orange
September
Average Temperature
- High 78 F
- Low 58 F
Average rainfall
- 1.54 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:53 – 7:22 am
- Set: 7:11 – 8:00 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 1.2 orange
October
Average Temperature
- High 65 F
- Low 46 F
Average rainfall
- 1.65 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:23 – 7:56 am
- Set: 6:25 – 7:09 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
November
Average Temperature
- High 50 F
- Low 36 F
Average rainfall
- 1.77 in
Average snowfall
- 7 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:32 – 7:51 am
- Set: 5:20 – 6:23 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
December
Average Temperature
- High 40 F
- Low 27 F
Average rainfall
- 1.61 in
Average snowfall
- 10 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:38 – 7:51 am
- Set: 4:59 – 5:09 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 1 red
Utah Valley
January
Average Temperature
- High 40 F
- Low 22 F
Average rainfall
- 1.89 in
Average snowfall
- 14 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:36 – 7:48 am
- Set: 5:11 – 5:44 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 2.5 red
February
Average Temperature
- High 46 F
- Low 26 F
Average rainfall
- 1.85 in
Average snowfall
- 11 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:01 – 7:35 am
- Set: 5:45 – 6:17 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0.5 red
March
Average Temperature
- High 56 F
- Low 33 F
Average rainfall
- 1.93 in
Average snowfall
- 7 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:48 – 7:46 am
- Set: 6:18 – 7:49 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
April
Average Temperature
- High 65 F
- Low 39 F
Average rainfall
- 2.01 in
Average snowfall
- 4 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:27 – 7:01 am
- Set: 7:50 – 8:20 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0 red & orange
May
Average Temperature
- High 75 F
- Low 47 F
Average rainfall
- 2.09 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:00 – 6:26 am
- Set: 8:21 – 8:49 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0 orange
June
Average Temperature
- High 85 F
- Low 54 F
Average rainfall
- 1.18 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 5:56 – 6:00 am
- Set: 8:49 – 8:59 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 1.6 orange
July
Average Temperature
- High 94 F
- Low 61 F
Average rainfall
- .75 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:01 – 6:23 am
- Set: 8:41 – 8:49 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 4.8 orange
August
Average Temperature
- High 92 F
- Low 60 F
Average rainfall
- 0.98 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:24 – 6:53 am
- Set: 8:00 – 8:40 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 1 orange & red
September
Average Temperature
- High 82 F
- Low 51 F
Average rainfall
- 1.46 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:54 – 7:21 am
- Set: 7:10 – 7:58 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 1 orange
October
Average Temperature
- High 67 F
- Low 40 F
Average rainfall
- 2.01 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:23 – 7:56 am
- Set: 6:25 – 7:09 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
November
Average Temperature
- High 52 F
- Low 31 F
Average rainfall
- 1.69 in
Average snowfall
- 7 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:58 – 7:56 am
- Set: 5:01 – 6:23 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
December
Average Temperature
- High 40 F
- Low 24 F
Average rainfall
- 1.93 in
Average snowfall
- 14 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:29 – 7:48 am
- Set: 5:01 – 5:10 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0.4 red
Weber County
January
Average Temperature
- High 35 F
- Low 20 F
Average rainfall
- 1.5 in
Average snowfall
- 7.8 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:39 – 7:53 am
- Set: 5:09 – 5:42 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0.7 red
February
Average Temperature
- High 41 F
- Low 24 F
Average rainfall
- 1.69 in
Average snowfall
- 5.9 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:03 – 7:38 am
- Set: 5:44 – 6:17 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0.2 red
March
Average Temperature
- High 52 F
- Low 32 F
Average rainfall
- 1.89 in
Average snowfall
- 1.3 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:49 – 7:12 am
- Set: 6:21 – 7:51 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
April
Average Temperature
- High 60 F
- Low 38 F
Average rainfall
- 1.97 in
Average snowfall
- 0.7 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:26 – 7:11 am
- Set: 7:52 – 8:23 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0.2 red
May
Average Temperature
- High 70 F
- Low 47 F
Average rainfall
- 2.2 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 5:57 – 6:25 am
- Set: 8:24 – 8:53 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
June
Average Temperature
- High 80 F
- Low 56 F
Average rainfall
- 1.42 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 5:54 – 5:57 am
- Set: 8:54 – 9:04 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 4 orange
July
Average Temperature
- High 90 F
- Low 64 F
Average rainfall
- .83 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 5:58 – 6:21 am
- Set: 8:45 – 9:04 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 3.8 red & orange
August
Average Temperature
- High 88 F
- Low 62 F
Average rainfall
- 0.83 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:22 – 6:52 am
- Set: 8:02 – 8:44 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 1 orange
September
Average Temperature
- High 63 F
- Low 40 F
Average rainfall
- 1.54 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:53 – 7:23 am
- Set: 7:11 – 8:00 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0.4 orange
October
Average Temperature
- High 63 F
- Low 40 F
Average rainfall
- 2.13 in
Average snowfall
- 0.1 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:24 – 7:57 am
- Set: 6:24 – 7:09 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
November
Average Temperature
- High 47 F
- Low 30 F
Average rainfall
- 1.61 in
Average snowfall
- 2.8 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:01 – 8:00 am
- Set: 4:59 – 6:23 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
December
Average Temperature
- High 36 F
- Low 22 F
Average rainfall
- 1.54 in
Average snowfall
- 3.6 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:33 – 7:53 am
- Set: 4:58 – 5:08 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
Iron County
January
Average Temperature
- High 42 F
- Low 17 F
Average rainfall
- 0.87 in
Average snowfall
- 9 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:38 – 7:49 am
- Set: 5:24 – 5:55 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
February
Average Temperature
- High 46 F
- Low 20 F
Average rainfall
- 0.98 in
Average snowfall
- 9 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:06 – 7:37 am
- Set: 5:56 – 6:25 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
March
Average Temperature
- High 54 F
- Low 26 F
Average rainfall
- 1.34 in
Average snowfall
- 9 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:53 – 7:51 am
- Set: 6:27 – 7:55 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
April
Average Temperature
- High 62 F
- Low 32 F
Average rainfall
- 1.06 in
Average snowfall
- 5 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:38 – 7:18 am
- Set: 7:56 – 8:22 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
May
Average Temperature
- High 72 F
- Low 39 F
Average rainfall
- 0.79 in
Average snowfall
- 1 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:13 – 6:37 am
- Set: 8:23 – 8:48 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
June
Average Temperature
- High 83 F
- Low 48 F
Average rainfall
- 0.51 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:10 – 6:14 am
- Set: 8:49 – 8:59 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
July
Average Temperature
- High 90 F
- Low 56 F
Average rainfall
- .83 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:14 – 6:35 am
- Set: 8:43 – 8:59 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
August
Average Temperature
- High 87 F
- Low 55 F
Average rainfall
- 1.14 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 6:36 – 7:02 am
- Set: 8:04 – 8:42 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
September
Average Temperature
- High 79 F
- Low 45 F
Average rainfall
- 0.67 in
Average snowfall
- 0 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:03 – 7:27 am
- Set: 7:17 – 8:02 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
October
Average Temperature
- High 66 F
- Low 33 F
Average rainfall
- 1.34 in
Average snowfall
- 2 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:28 – 7:57 am
- Set: 6:35 – 7:16 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
November
Average Temperature
- High 52 F
- Low 23 F
Average rainfall
- 0.94 in
Average snowfall
- 7 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:00 – 7:59 am
- Set: 5:32 – 6:24 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
December
Average Temperature
- High 42 F
- Low 16 F
Average rainfall
- 0.83 in
Average snowfall
- 7 in
Sunrise/Sunset
- Rise: 7:33 – 7:53 am
- Set: 4:58 – 5:08 pm
Air Quality
Number of unhealthy days for people who are active outdoors:
- 0
