Utah snowpack strong as spring begins

SALT LAKE CITY — Statewide, Utah snowpack is in great shape as we move into spring.

As of Tuesday, March 19, the average amount of water in the snowpack from end to end of the Beehive State is about 26% above the 30-year average.

Additionally, it’s 6% above the median peak snowpack, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. 

The median snowpack represents the average of every peak snowpack ever recorded.

While more snow and water help, we don’t need any more to have a healthy water supply for the year.

Some areas of the state, including parts of Southern Utah, have even higher amounts of water in their snowpacks.

On average, reservoirs across the state are more than 80% full. With incoming snow water, there should be a good amount to spare for the still-struggling Great Salt Lake and Lake Powell. 

While it varies from year to year, state data said that on average, Utah snowpack peaks on April 3. More often than not, the peak usually occurs during the first week of April. 

Spring runoff will begin shortly after the Utah snowpack peaks.

During last year’s spring runoff that followed a record snowpack, we had almost double the snow water we do today. 

Related:

• Comparing Utah’s snowpack this winter with the rest of the West
• Utah snowpack is now in great shape

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