Will it Ever be Normal Again?

Here in Utah, last year, during the beginning of September, I complained bitterly about the unending heat wave that we suffered through. In Salt Lake City, the September 2022 temperatures were blasted by seven 100 degree days to start the month, including an all-time record high of 107 degrees. Previously, there had been only 3 September days with over 100 degree heat since 1874. A half-dozen other heat records were set in Utah during 2022 including the hottest month on record, (July), the hottest summer on record, the most 100 degree days in a year, (34), the second-longest streak of 100 degree days, (9 days), and the second-longest streak of 90 degree days. (42 days).

So, is it any wonder that a cooler then normal fall was very welcome. Then, it began to rain and snow. October precipitation was lower then normal, November was above average, and December was also well above average. A six day snow storm beginning December 11 left almost two feet of snow on the ground, where it has stayed. The snow has varied from 1 to 3 feet on the ground since. January and February water precipitation totals were over 10 inches, which is half of the yearly total of 20 inches here where I live. The temperatures have barely gone above the high 30s in an unending cold winter. Overall in the state, the water equivalent of the mountain snow pack stand at an amazing 195% of normal. The only years here in Utah that have seen more snow to date were 1984, 1997 and 2005. Has this helped the drought that Utah has been experiencing over the last few years? The current drought monitor shows that just over 31% of the state is in extreme drought down from 70% last year. So we are looking much better.

In the southern part of the state where Lake Powell stands behind the Glen Canyon Dam, (the second largest reservoir in the U.S.), it is only projected to rise 6%. The reservoir reached a record low elevation last year. It is estimated that it will take 15 years of above average snow to refill Lake Powell, even though the area snow pack is 40% above average this year. For the rest of the year, Utah is forecast to have above average temperatures this summer and normal precipitation, which is to say, not much during those summer months. But, with winter still being cold and wet right now, I might like a little warming up, but then I will most likely complain until the weather turns cold again. Some people are just never happy with anything to do with the weather.

(A couple of photos recently from along the side of our house and the back deck, it really has been a very snowy and depressing winter.)