Parade of Storms Dumps Massive Amounts of Snow on Utah This Winter, Alleviating Drought

Posted: April 23, 2023 7:26 am

California is not the only western state that is finally climbing out of a long-term drought. The state of Utah is also enjoying the result of over 880 inches of snow that fell in some areas this winter.

It has been almost three years that Utah has not been under any designation of extreme drought. Where is this relief coming from?

Record Snowfall Helps to Erase Drought in Utah

The same parade of storms that erased the drought for over half of California is also to thank for the reversal of the dry conditions in Utah. Record snowfall across the state has helped the area to build its snowpack and fill its reservoirs.

The most eye-popping snowfall totals was recorded at Alta, a popular ski resort. Alta has recorded 879.5 inches of snow, translating to over 7 feet, through the early part of April. This amount shattered the previous seasonal record for the resort of 748 inches, dating back to the 1981 – 1982 winter season.

This number is even more shocking when you consider that the previous season only saw 445.5 inches of snow. The ski resort area of Brighton saw 850 inches of snow over the course of the season, more than twice the amount it saw in 2021 – 2022.

While this amount of snow has certainly been good news for the drought, the volume also has created hardships for the ski industry. Too much snow creates a higher risk of avalanches.

It was also too much for road crews to keep up with at times. The Alta Resort was forced to implement rules that required visitors to stay indoors for set time periods due to avalanche danger.

The good news is that the ski and snowboard season has been extended longer than normal because of the great conditions. Park City Mountain recently announced that it would remain open for winter sports through May 1.

This area also experienced a record amount of snow for the season when it recorded over 610 inches. The resort is reporting a snow base of depth of 142 inches. Meanwhile, an increase in the threat of avalanches due to the loose snow has forced Alta to announce a closing date of April 23.

Snowpack Instrumental in Mitigating Drought

One of the biggest weather stories of the year so far has been the exceptionally wet winter for California and beyond. Dozens of atmospheric rivers set up over the Golden State this season, bringing rain for the coastal areas and snow for the mountains.

The moisture associated with this relentless parade of storms also moved into the central and southern Rockies to produce record-breaking amounts of moisture. For Utah, this resulted in the heavy snow that now still sits across the higher terrain.

The extensive snowpack has created a water equivalent of 29 inches. This amount is tops on the list for record snowpack levels for the state, beating the previous record of 26 inches from 1983.

The massive snowpack is pairing with the above normal rainfall to help to replenish the state’s major basins. According to the Utah Snow Survey, every basin in the state is now sitting at least 160% of average snowpack levels with some topping the 200% threshold.

While there are still some parts of the state under a drought designation, the rapid melting of this snowpack this spring will continue to help to alleviate these concerns.

The latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that there is no part of the estate under the two highest levels of drought designation as of the middle of April.

The entirety of the state was listed under the designation of at least a moderate drought heading into the start of the current water year. By April, this figure had dropped to about 40% of the state.

Ongoing Climate Issues in the State Remain

The news surrounding the drought is certainly promising. However, state officials are still cautioning that the Great Salt Lake is in danger of disappearing in the coming years.

Although the recent rash of precipitation will help to slow down this threat, scientists warn that proactive steps must be taken to solve the looming problem.

The rate at which the snowpack is melting as the temperature begins to climb this spring is also presenting flooding risks.

Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox recently declared a state of emergency in an effort to provide adequate financial assistance for areas of the state that may be dealing with flooding, avalanches, and landslides as the snow melts at a fast clip and overwhelms waterways.

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