Utah faces critical water shortages despite wet July

Utah experienced a July characterized by near-record heat and increased precipitation, yet water supplies in the San Pitch watershed remain critically low. Despite receiving 2.5 inches of rain—225% of the normal amount—the basin’s reservoirs were only 4% full as of August 1, a significant drop from 22% during the same period last year.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service reports that while monsoonal moisture improved mountain soil saturation to 59%, the lack of spring snowmelt continues to impact long-term storage. The San Pitch basin currently ranks in the 13th percentile statewide for water availability, mirroring hydrologic conditions seen in 2002 and 2016.

Climatologically, Utah’s July was the second-warmest on record, with Salt Lake City recording its hottest day since 1874 at 109 degrees on July 12. While the latter half of the month saw moisture that helped mitigate extreme temperatures, the state's overall water security remains pressured by the early melting of a record-low snowpack.