Drought in Southeast Utah, Utah

At the beginning of the month of April, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought as covering approximately 75% of Utah Zone 022 - Southeast Utah, with the remaining 25% of the zone under Severe (D2) Drought. There was no change to drought conditions in this zone through the end of the month. No direct impacts from the drought have been felt as yet, but concern is increasing about the drought's impact on the upcoming wildfire season. There is also some concern about water availability through the rest of the year, for home irrigation, farming, and ranching purposes.

The month of April saw weather closer to that expected for the time of year. While temperatures did end up being, on average, warmer than normal, the departures were significantly less compared to the month of March. The mountains saw a few solid snowfalls during the month, as well as some precipitation across the lower elevations. Areas north of I-70 generally fared the best. Locations in this region did see some improvement in drought conditions. Areas south of I-70 generally remained the same or worsened slightly.