A storm front earlier this month rained on 37 of the state's 38 weather monitoring stations, keeping alive slim hope that this year's summer water picture will remain better than in 1991.
Only the Uintah Basin is reporting total year-to-date precipitation below 1991 levels, a Utah Climate Center report says. The center divides the state into seven reporting districts.The Dixie area, which includes the state's southwest corner, continues to have the best water outlook, reporting 121 percent of average. The latest storm dropped the most precipitation in this area, with Kanab reporting the largest concentration at 1.39 inches for the week. The south-central area, from Sanpete County to Kane County, is reporting 117 percent of average; southeast Utah is reporting 104 percent. These readings are up significantly from the 76-87 percent levels reported last year at this time.North-central Utah, essentially the Wasatch Front area, is at 99 percent of average, western Utah at 95 percent, the northern mountains at 91 percent and the Uintah Basin 68 percent.
While combined averages paint a good picture, several areas of concern remain for the Wasatch Front. The Bear River and Weber-Ogden rivers' drainages are at just 70 percent of normal, while the Provo River-Utah Lake-Jordan River drainage is at 69 percent, according to March 9 snow measurements by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. While these figures are slightly improved over Feb. 10 readings, current weather patterns are not promising.
Weather officials say April 1 is the key date for snowpack readings. Any significant snowfall after that date generally does not help the spring runoff.
Helping the 1992 water picture is a good reservoir carryover from 1991. The majority of the state's major reservoirs are currently holding more than 50 percent of their usable capacity compared to just 45 percent at this time last year, according to the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center in Salt Lake.
At the top of the list is Echo Reservoir on the Weber River which is at 87 percent of usable capacity. Starvation Reservoir near Duchesne is at 85 percent with East Canyon (Weber River drainage) and Deer Creek (Provo River) at 79 and 78 percent respectively. At the low end are Scofield Reservoir (15 percent) and Upper Stillwater (26 percent). Flaming Gorge is at 87 percent and Lake Powell, 55 percent.