Utah’s rainfall in August was above normal

SALT LAKE CITY —  Utah saw well-above-normal levels of rainfall in August, helping state water levels after a dry summer. 

Nearly double the amount of normal rainfall fell in Utah’s mountains and valleys last month according to data from the National Water and Climate Center. That water helped maintain reservoir levels at 77% capacity statewide. 

Jordan Clayton, the Utah Snow Survey supervisor, said the summer started out dry, but August turned things around.

“[Rainfall in August was] 178% of normal precipitation for the mountains, 160% of normal precipitation for the valleys.  Of course, it’s not uniformly distributed, but it hit most of the state which is good,” said Clayton.

According to Clayton, rainfall has kept the soil wet and helped with reservoir water preservation. Reservoir levels are expected to decrease slightly through September, and then increase again when the colder months arrive.

However, data shows Great Salt Lake is currently sitting around five feet below target levels.

Clayton said the biggest thing to help the lake would be a wet fall with another huge snowpack season.

“What we really are hoping for is a continuation of these above-normal moisture conditions that we had in August so that we can go into the snowpack year with wet soil. That really helps us out,” said Clayton.

Allessandra Harris–Gurr is a reporter for KSL NewsRadio.  

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