SALT LAKE CITY (May 14, 2026) – As temperatures heat up, Utahns are urged to be water-conscious and aware of the various impacts of drought this late spring/early summer. The state anticipates drought conditions to worsen, causing stress on wildlife, recreation, and water supply. Drying vegetation will also create the conditions for increased fire danger. Currently, 100% of the state is in some form of drought, and 59% is in extreme drought.
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SALT LAKE CITY (April 23, 2026) – In a typical year, Utah’s runoff – which refills our reservoirs – would just be getting underway. However, due to record-low snowpack and record-high temperatures, peak runoff has already come and gone. While larger reservoirs with multiple years of storage are doing well, smaller reservoirs with one or two years of storage capacity are struggling.
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The Utah Division of Water Resources has partnered with Weber Basin Water Conservancy District and the Great Salt Lake Commissioner’s Office to expand and explore the use of Airborne Snow Observatories (ASO) technology in the Great Salt Lake Basin. This ASO project, known as “Wings over Weber”, is the second of its kind in Utah and the first focused on a watershed within the GSL Basin. The project is funded, in part, by a grant from the Bureau of Reclamation.
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SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 18, 2025) – A warm and dry December and November have left the state with below-normal snow totals. While this is a reason for concern, two or three good storm cycles could bring the state up to normal levels. Utah’s snowpack typically peaks around the beginning of April.
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SALT LAKE CITY (July 22, 2025) – 100% of the state is in moderate to severe drought. On average, our reservoirs have dropped around 10% between June 1 and July 1. Typically, reservoirs drop around 2% during the same period. This is due to increased demand and an inefficient spring runoff earlier this year.
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SALT LAKE CITY (July 1, 2025) – With the peak of summer ahead, state water officials are planning for hot, dry weather driving up demand. With drought conditions persisting across the state, using water wisely is more important than ever. Storms in the southern part of the state have improved the situation, while drought conditions have worsened in the northern part of the state. Overall, 91% of the state remains in moderate to severe drought.
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April 21, 2025 — Earth is a watery place. When we look at a photo from space, it’s easy to see that our planet has more water than land. But of all the water on Earth, more than 99-percent of it is unusable by humans and many other living things. It’s surprising that the water that supports all terrestrial and aquatic life on our planet is actually so scarce!
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SALT LAKE CITY (April 17, 2025) – Over 100 million gallons of water will be saved each year through landscape conversions in the 2024 Landscape Incentive Program. This vital initiative, led by the Utah Division of Water Resources and Central Utah, Jordan Valley, Washington County, and Weber Basin Water Conservancy Districts, empowers residents and businesses to save water while reducing water bills and contributing to Utah’s long-term water resilience.
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SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 18, 2025) – Utah’s snowpack has raised concerns among water managers. The state’s snowpack sits at 93% of normal, with two southern Utah basins recording less than 50% of normal snow water equivalent (SWE). Extreme drought has reappeared in southwestern Utah for the first time since March 2023.
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SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 16, 2025) – Northern Utah has experienced near-normal precipitation, although much of it has been in the form of rain rather than snow, which could affect water storage for the spring melt. In southern Utah, however, snowpack remains 27-64% of normal for this time of year, continuing dry conditions in that region.
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