Drought in Tavaputs Plateau, Utah

At the beginning of the month of April, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought as covering 100% of Utah Zone 025 - Tavaputs Plateau. These drought conditions remained unchanged through the end of the month. Drought impacts at this point are limited to poor winter snowpack conditions. There is increasing concern over the impact of the drought on the upcoming summer wildfire season. Additionally, there is concern over water availability for farming and ranching in the zone.

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.