Southern Utah hits record low snowpack

SALT LAKE CITY — Southern Utah is experiencing historically low snowpack levels and are starting to see extreme drought conditions. 

National Weather Service hydrologist Glen Merrill said while snowpack levels in northern Utah are at or above normal, southern Utah is struggling.

“The Santa Clara drainage near the St. George area in Washington County is only at 13% of normal right now,” Merrill explained, “basins like the Virgin are at about 30% of normal.”

Merrill said reservoirs across the state are at or above normal levels which could help a little bit but current weather conditions could make drought conditions worse.

“The continuation of warmer than normal and dryer than normal temperature and precipitation conditions will only exacerbate the ongoing drought that they are experiencing.”

 Merrill said there’s a chance monsoonal weather patterns come to Utah sooner this year because of the low snowpack levels, which could cause flash floods in the summer.