Utah experienced a late surge in monsoon rainfall this summer, averting one of the driest seasons on record. The state averaged 1.6 inches of precipitation from June to August, below the 30-year normal and marking the driest summer since 2020. However, most of the rainfall occurred in August, which enabled Utah to avoid the bottom 10 driest summers.
All 29 counties recorded less than average rainfall, but Box Elder County had the best performance, ranking as the 51st driest. Meanwhile, regions like northwestern Utah saw much higher than average rainfall, leading to localized flooding.
Meteorologists noted that an unusual weather pattern dominated earlier summer months, causing drier conditions, but late August brought typical monsoon activity. These late storms helped improve soil moisture levels that had dropped to record lows. However, nearly 80% of Utah is still experiencing severe or extreme drought, impacting water reserves ahead of winter.
Reservoir levels have also dropped significantly, and forecasts suggest that while the fall may remain dry, continued storms could provide some relief.
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