Number of spring thunderstorms considered normal for Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — We are preparing for another thunderstorm to reach Utah and stay for the next few days.

Although it might seem like the state is continuing the streak of extra wet months, KSL Meteorologist Kevin Eubank said the amount of thunderstorms is considered “normal” for Utah in the spring.

“We are not seeing any more thunderstorms than we’ve seen in years past. I think what we’ve seen is the last couple of weeks we’ve been in a bit of a stormy pattern.”

Thunderstorms sticking around in Utah

Normally, thunderstorms come and go, not lasting more than a day.

“These were actual little stalled frontal boundaries, which never moved. So that moisture stayed there for multiple days on end, and then each day they fired up these afternoon thunderstorms,” Eubank said.

It might seem like Utah is seeing more storms this spring, but it’s really seeing the same storm system lasting multiple days.

Coming back from a drought

The state is coming out of two years of extreme drought and warm weather.

“2021 was a record-breaking year for temperatures. 2022 had an all-time record for hundred-degree temperatures. Both years were the end years of a megadrought,” said Eubank.

This year is shaping up to be a pivot point for our water supply and drought. We are continuing to see the pattern from the winter of rain and water, which could last through the summer, providing cooler temperatures than Utah has seen in the past few years and moving from very dry years to a regular wet year.

It is normal to see wet springs after really wet winters, but Eubank said it has been dry in the past month.

“The month of May ended up very dry. In fact  . . . 30% of normal in Salt Lake, but it’s the overall pattern.”

Make sure you stay updated on the weather in Utah with KSL’s Weather Center. 

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