Looking back at Utah’s record-breaking winter in pictures

SALT LAKE CITY  —  Utah hasn’t seen this much snow in over 70 years. While some are enjoying the snow, others are trying to keep their houses from collapsing. Canyons and ski resorts have been closed due to avalanche danger and flooding is on the horizon.

With a look outside, it seems like we are in the dead of winter instead of the beginning of spring. We have passed our old snowpack record, set back in 1952, at 28.8 inches.

On Wednesday, we broke that record at 29 inches.

29″ SWE. As Utah officially surpasses the estimated 1952 levels, those concerned with flooding can learn more about risks and other state resources by going to the @UtahDPS emergency management page: https://t.co/gfkjF2yFlE #utwx pic.twitter.com/jHQQ62QUXr

— NRCS Utah (@NRCS_Utah) April 4, 2023

Some families have brought a little winter fun into spring by making snow bunnies instead of snowmen in honor of Easter, which is just around the corner.

But others have had the heavy threat of their roofs collapsing due to the weight of the snow. Homes in Bear Lake, Mountain Green, and Park City and other cities around Utah, have had roofs buckling under many inches of snow.

Along with collapsing homes, the Utah Avalanche Center warns of high avalanche danger in all of the northern Utah Mountains.

Ski resorts in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons have had to close due to unprecedented amounts of snow. The town of Alta had to issue an interlodge where people were to remain inside due to avalanche danger.

While this record-breaking winter –and spring — brought stress and danger to many, the unprecedented amount of snow also brought along a silver lining.

Even with the threat of flooding, this water is what Utah has longed for. The historic amount of snowfall has eased Utah’s drought and brought us to conditions we haven’t seen since 2020.

What a difference 2 years & 1 never-ending winter can make.❄️The map on the right shows the latest #Utah drought status. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still a ways to go to become more drought resilient as a state. Your conservation efforts play a *huge* role in that.🙏💪 pic.twitter.com/6ucXPCVYcv

— Utah Division of Water Resources (@utahwaterres) March 30, 2023