From Deseret News archives:
Utah rain, snow short of normal
But precipitation is still better than last year at this time
In a year-to-date comparison statewide, Utah is only at 78 percent of its normal moisture, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Resources Conservation Service.
As bad as that may sound, it is a significant improvement over a year ago when Utah's statewide average was only 54 percent.
The Bear River, Weber-Ogden rivers and Provo-Jordan rivers stand at 70 percent, 75 percent and 79 percent of normal, respectively. (That compares to 58 percent, 61 percent and 62 percent a year ago.)
The most dismal areas are the Price-San Rafael drainage at 58 percent of normal and southeastern Utah at 62 percent. Only the Beaver River is above normal at 113 percent. Next closest is Tooele Valley-Vernon Creek at 94 percent.
The Thanksgiving Day storm added just 0.07 of an inch of moisture at the Salt Lake City International Airport. Brighton Ski Resort received 4 inches and Snowbird 3 inches of new snow.
Southern Utah benefited the most from the latest storm. Cedar City recorded 0.51 of an inch of moisture, while the lowest elevations of Zion National Park had 0.41 of an inch.
The airport has received 1.46 inches of moisture in November. That's actually 0.18 of an inch above normal. Since Oct. 1, the airport is only 0.10 of an inch below normal, but for the calendar year, it is a significant 4.73 inches below normal, with a total of only 10.42 inches of moisture received.
Examining snowfall-only totals reveals an even greater shortage than precipitation alone. For example, the Bear River drainage has received just 52 percent of normal snowfall so far. The Weber-Ogden river drainage is even lower at 44 percent, and the Provo-Jordan rivers area is even less at 30 percent.
There's simply just not much snow falling in these areas right now to be stored for next spring's runoff.
The outlook for additional moisture for at least the next week isn't promising either. Tuesday offers the next predicted opportunity for moisture. Salt Lake City has a slight chance of rain then, while Tuesday night has an equally small chance of snow falling.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com
