Warm Nov. leaves the month an 'average' performer on precipitation

Warm Nov. leaves the month an 'average' performer on precipitation

(Laura Seitz, Deseret News)


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SALT LAKE CITY — November, overall, was a pretty boring month for weather.

Exceptionally mild, dry and hot, with a few good storms at the end, November left a snowpack in the mountains that weather watchers hope persists in the months to come.

The latest monthly climate and water supply report issued Friday by the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Utah Snow Survey provides a snapshot of reservoir storage, soil moisture levels and amount of snowpack as Utah heads into the full swing of winter.

One good thing to remember about November is that, according to water supply experts, it means little for how the water year ultimately shapes up come April.

"November snowpack has no correlation with an eventual April 1 peak snow," the report said. "There have been years with November snows much above average that have ended in drought and years with little accumulation that have turned out above average. So from that perspective, the presence or absence of snow at this time period means little for the eventual outcome."

Utah is heading into its sixth year of drought, with water supply managers hoping that an above-average year for snowpack can start to reverse the dry pattern. While one good water year does not erase the cumulative effects of a drought, it can start the healing process in terms of reservoir storage, moisture content in the soils and general rangeland conditions.

So far, Utah is sitting at average to below average conditions in the north, but precipitation has been more generous in areas like Moab in southeastern Utah and southwest Utah.

Photo: Aaron Thorup
Photo: Aaron Thorup

In November, there was 143 percent of average precipitation for the southeast portion of the state, and precipitation was about average — 106 percent in November — in Utah's Dixie region.

The month's exceptionally temperate conditions in Utah continued a pattern scientists are seeing replicated throughout the world.

"November was the warmest month on record for heat, globally," said Brian McInerney, hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City.

For 17 consecutive months — broken up by October — McInerney said global heat temperatures were broken. The Salt Lake City International Airport logged its hottest meteorological fall on record this year.

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"November was very dry," he said, adding he hopes the state does not continue a five-year pattern of being stuck under a high-pressure ridge that keeps the storms away.

Utah has experienced a somewhat active storm pattern over the last week, which should continue with another storm slated to move in Sunday or Monday.

A consistent pattern of snowfall plus cold is what McInerney and others would like to see.

"We really like our team (the Snowflakes) to score early and often and just pummel the drought into oblivion, leaving no doubts on what kind of season we want," the report noted.

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