Text Products for DGT Issued by SLC

Drought Information Statement
Issued by NWS Salt Lake City, UT
Versions: 1
000
AXUS75 KSLC 261839
DGTSLC
UTC001-003-005-007-011-013-015-017-021-023-025-027-029-031-033-035-
039-041-043-045-049-051-053-055-057-WYC041

DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
1240 PM MDT THU AUG 26 2021


...WIDESPREAD EXTREME TO EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT CONTINUES...


.SYNOPSIS:


.Drought intensity and extent: According to the August 26, 2021
release of the United States Drought Monitor, 84% of the National
Weather Service Weather (NWS) Forecast Office Salt Lake City, UT
(WFO SLC) County Warning Area (CWA) is experiencing extreme (D3) to
exceptional (D4) drought conditions.  Exceptional drought (D4)
conditions continue through much of the northern and central portion
of the state. Extreme drought (D3) conditions continue across
northern Box Elder county and far southwestern Uinta County Wyoming
to the northwestern slopes of the Uinta mountains as well as from
the Millard/Iron County area east to the eastern portions of Emery,
Wane, Garfield and Kane Counties. Severe drought (D2) conditions are
being reported through most of Uinta County, Wyoming, northeastern
Rich County as well as most of Iron, Washington, western Garfield
and western Kane Counties.


To see county specific drought information, see
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu


.Precipitation: Monsoon conditions have brought widespread rainfall
to much of the state July into August. While this precipitation has
allowed for a reduction of irrigation need across the state, this
has not significantly improved drought conditions.


.Hydrologic Conditions: Monsoonal moisture has brought widespread
rainfall to portions of Utah. 31 of measured streams are running
below normal compared to last week when 65 were flowing below normal
due to this heavy rainfall.

42 reservoirs in Utah are below 55% capacity this week (compared to
33 last week).  Overall statewide storage is 51% of capacity,
similar to last week.

Soil moisture levels are well above normal in many locations across
Utah due to monsoonal moisture.


.SUMMARY OF IMPACTS:


.Agricultural Impacts: Populations of upland game species including
doves, pigeons, grouse, partridge and rabbits have been impacted by
the long term drought.  Move of cattle and sheep from pasture has
begun earlier than typical, leading to additional economic stress on
producers who must rely on hay rather than rangeland forage for
animal feed. 84% of irrigation water supplies are rated as short or
very short.  Pasture and rangeland conditions improved slightly
after recent rains.  63% are rated as short or very short compared
to 70% last week.


.Fire Hazards: Large wildland fire potential is near normal across
much of the state, below normal across far southern Utah due to
recent monsoonal rain. Across Uinta County, Wyoming, large wildland
fire potential is above normal.


.DROUGHT MITIGATION ACTIONS:


The State of Utah has issued a state-wide drought emergency. The
order can be found here: https://water.utah.gov/wp-
content/uploads/2021/03/2021-Drought-Executive-Order-1.pdf


.LOCAL DROUGHT OUTLOOK:


Tropical influence and a pronounced monsoonal surge continue to be
forecast by several ensemble members. This will be monitored over
the next week to two weeks.


.NEXT ISSUANCE DATE:


This product will be updated in early October, or sooner if drought
conditions change significantly.


.RELATED WEBSITES:


Additional information on current drought conditions may be found at
the following web addresses:


U.S. Drought Monitor: https://www.droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ US Drought
Portal: https://drought.gov/ Climate Prediction Center (CPC):
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/ Utah State Climate Center:
https://climate.usu.edu/ USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) Utah: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/ut/home/
USDA NRCS Wyoming: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/wy/


Additional water and river information: CBRFC:
https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/ NWS: https://water.weather.gov/ USDA
NRCS Utah:
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ut/snow/?cid=nrcs141
p2_034248


.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:


The United States Drought Monitor is a multiagency effort involving
NOAAs National Weather Service and National Centers for
Environmental Information, the United States Department of
Agriculture, state and regional climatologists, and the National
Drought Mitigation Center. Information for this statement was
gathered from observation sites, regional climate centers, state
cooperative extension services, Great Basin Coordination Center,
National Interagency Fire Center, and Natural Resources Conservation
Service.


.CONTACT INFORMATION:


Should you have any questions or comments about this drought
statement, please contact: National Weather Service Weather Forecast
Office Salt Lake City, UT.  Phone: 801-524-5133 Email:
nws.saltlakecity@noaa.gov.
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office
