Snowpack Update

Snowpack peaked 10 days early this year and record-dry soils have decreased the runoff efficiency that fills streams, rivers and lakes.

Visit the NRCS Snow Survey website for more information.

January 28, 2021 – Learn more about Utah’s current snow conditions and how they play into the state’s water forecast. Watch Jordan Clayton’s presentation that he shared with the Board of Water Resources on January 28, 2021. Jordan is with the NRCS Snow Survey Program, and this 10-minute presentation is packed with interesting information. Conditions are below average for all of Utah’s major basins. Conditions have improved a little since his Dec. 3, 2020 presentation, but Utah needs a lot more snow.

January 14, 2021 – The good news is we still have some of our wettest months ahead. The bad news is that things are still really dry. Drought or no drought, we need to get aggressive with our conservation efforts because we live in one of the driest states in the nation.

  • 2020 had record dry weather and was the eighth warmest calendar year on record.
  • Current soil moisture is at the lowest levels since monitoring began in 2006, which means when we do get precipitation, the ground will soak it up first and reduce the runoff that typically fills reservoirs, lakes and streams.
  • Water levels are closely monitored by many agencies so that they are poised to react if conditions don’t improve.
  • All of Utah’s 29 counties are experiencing some level of drought.
  • We can’t control precipitation, but we can find opportunities to decrease our water use. Tips and Info

December 3, 2020 – We wish the news were a little wetter … and better. Learn more about Utah’s snow conditions and how they play into the state’s water forecast. Watch Jordan Clayton’s presentation that he shared with the Board of Water Resources on December 3, 2020. Jordan is with the NRCS Snow Survey Program, and this 10-minute presentation is packed with interesting information. The takeaway … Utah needs a better than normal snowpack this winter to get us back to average. So think snow!