UTAH DROUGHT

Utah snowpack at a 10-year-high

Feb 7, 2023, 11:00 AM

snowy trees pictured, we're set to break a snow water record...

Snow blankets the trees in Millcreek Canyon on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)

(Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah is in the middle of a 10-year high when it comes to snowfall. 

Glen Merrill, a hydrologist with National Weather Service Salt Lake said Utah’s snowpack is currently 167% of the median for the state.

“We really haven’t seen a snowpack this deep and expansive really since 2011. And we’re actually slightly ahead of 2011.”

The last time there was a slightly bigger snowpack was in 2005.

Considering it’s only February, the current snowpack is a good sign for easing the drought.

“We get 90 to 95% of our water supply from our snowpack and the snowmelt runoff. So this is exactly the type of winter that we need to really turn the corner in the drought that we’ve been experiencing.”

There are still 57 days to build the snowpack before it peaks in April.

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