Utah has experienced a wet winter and now a wet spring. And all that water is contributing to pulling the state out of drought.
2011 was a record snowpack year in Utah. That was the last time we saw something like what we’re seeing now--a lot of snow that can sustain the state for years into the future.
Simon Wang, a Plant, Soils and Climate professor at Utah State University, says the water we’ve received this year could give Utah water security for the next 2 or possibly even 3 years.
“Our soil is recharged, it’s wet, it’s damp," Wang said.
But that doesn’t mean that we’re completely safe--drought wise.
“It means we are back to the normal stage," Wang said. "We are right about to be within that mean or average range.”
Each year in Utah fluctuates. We have wet years and dry years, but that average range is about the same. The last five years have been dry and much of the state has been in drought.
But Wang said Utah is heading into a wet cycle.
“So starting this year, this past winter, we will be seeing more and more precipitation falling, compared to the five year drought Utah has had for the past five years," Wang said.