Drought in La Sal & Abajo Mountains, Utah

At the beginning of the month of April, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought covering 100% of Utah Zone 028 - La Sal & Abajo Mountains. These drought conditions remained unchanged through the end of the month. Drought impacts have been felt mainly in the poor winter snowpack. There are increasing concerns about the impact of the drought on the upcoming summer wildfire season. There is also concern over water availability for home irrigation, farming, and ranching.

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.