Gov. Cox issues drought declaration for 17 counties, urges Utahns to be ‘mindful' of water
The governor ordered the Utah Drought Response Committee — a group composed of various government agencies and water users — to review 'hardships and other circumstances' caused by drought in the counties across southern and central Utah, recommend actions to address those challenges and create a way for 'interagency coordination' tied to those actions.
Thursday's declaration also recommends that water supplies and irrigation companies across southern and central Utah 'encourage efficient landscape watering' and contact the Utah Division of Water Resources over a potential drought response plan, if needed.
Cities and counties are also encouraged to consider developing and implementing 'water restriction plans and taking other steps to promote water conservation for the upcoming irrigation season,' per the order. The order also recommends that residents reduce outdoor watering/waste, fix irrigation and indoor leaks, and implement waterwise landscapes in 'unnecessary turf areas.'
Counties included in the drought declaration include:
Beaver
Carbon
Emery
Garfield
Grand
Iron
Juab
Kane
Millard
Piute
San Juan
Sanpete
Sevier
Tooele
Uintah
Washington
Wayne
'We've been monitoring drought conditions closely and, unfortunately, our streamflow forecasts are low, particularly in southern Utah,' Cox said in a statement.
His decision wasn't much of a surprise. During his monthly briefing with Utah reporters last week, the governor said he was close to issuing a drought order. All emergency declarations last for 30 days unless extended by the Utah Legislature, and he said he wanted to wait until it could convene.
Utah's snowpack was close to average this year, but water experts cautioned it wasn't a great year for everyone. Jordan Clayton, a hydrologist for the Conservation Service and supervisor of the Utah Snow Survey, gave statewide snowpack a 'C' grade earlier this month, because the season ended below-average for most of central and southern Utah.
The statewide average only increased because of normal to slightly above-normal collections in northern Utah.
Drought conditions worsened in Utah's southern half from a lack of snowpack. Nearly half of the state is in severe drought or worse, including a large portion of Washington and Iron counties in extreme drought, per the U.S. Drought Monitor. Only a little more than a quarter of the state is in no drought or 'abnormally dry.'
Drought can impact spring runoff, sending more snowpack into the ground instead of the creeks, rivers and streams that go toward the state's reservoirs.
'That's a recipe for not getting much runoff,' Clayton said. 'We are very concerned about that.'
The document notes that all counties included in the order are either in extreme or severe drought or 'at risk' of impending drought because their streamflow forecast is projected to be below 50%. Southwest Utah's water supply could end up below 30% this spring because of a mix of below-normal snowpack and extreme drought.
This can have widespread effects on agriculture and livestock production, wildlife and drinking water supplies. Although Utah's reservoir system remains about 85% statewide, some reservoirs could run out early this year. There's no certainty over what next winter will bring.
That's why experts are urging residents to take steps to reduce water consumption as the irrigation season begins.
'I urge all Utahns to be extremely mindful of their water use and find every possible way to conserve,' Cox added. 'Water conservation is critical for Utah's future.'
Wildfire danger also increases during drought. Cox issued a separate order tied to wildfire preparedness earlier this week.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
6 days ago
- USA Today
Rare weather phenomenon could dump a month's worth of rain on the Northwest
A rare atmospheric river is unfolding across the Northwest to end the week, with over a month's worth of rain possible in some parts of Oregon and Washington, forecasters said. The rain event should tamp down wildfire danger but will soak anyone camping. The stream of moisture is unusual for the Pacific Northwest at this time of year, which typically experiences drier Augusts. It's forecast to bring 1 to 3 inches of rain to the Cascade Mountains and coastal areas, with varying rain totals elsewhere in both states. 'It's pretty unseasonal – it does happen from time to time but not very often in August,' Tanja Fransen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland, told the Salem Statesman Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. 'We certainly need it.' The rain began the evening of Aug. 14 and is expected to pick up in a second round the evening of Aug. 15 and morning of Aug. 16, before gradually giving way to sunnier skies on Aug. 17. Between 0.5 and 0.75 inches already fell in the last 12 hours with the heaviest amounts along the coast, the weather service in Seattle reported. In western Washington, 1.5 to 2.5 inches is expected in the coming days. "The storm would be considered formidable even during the middle of the wet season in the winter months," AccuWeather reported. Over a month's worth of rain could fall Rainfall totals from this rain event could surpass usual rainfall amounts for the whole month of August in parts of Washington and Oregon in just a few days, AccuWeather reported. Portland, Oregon, gets an average of just over half an inch of rain in August, and Seattle sees about 0.97 of an inch. Totals could be one to two times this amount, according to the outlet. The western slopes of the Olympic and Cascade mountains could see 4 inches of rain in some spots, AccuWeather said. Some of the rain could dip as far south as Northern California. "The rain will ebb and flow, so expect some periods that are heavier rain, then lighter rain, it may totally stop and then start up again," the weather service in Portland said. Rain a much-needed relief for dry Oregon The rain comes just as Oregon's drought has rapidly expanded and wildfire danger reaches its seasonal peak. More than half of Oregon is now classified as being under a moderate drought and most of the Willamette Valley and northwest Oregon is under a severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. 'It's going to help with the drought and wildfire danger, but it's also not a 'season-ending' event,' Fransen said. Oregon's weather is expected to heat back up again by next weekend and wildfires will remain possible throughout late August and September. Rain is coming starting after midnight tonight through midnight Sat/Sun am. It can be heavy at times. More details in this thread. (1/x) What is an 'atmospheric river'? On the West Coast, atmospheric rivers approach from the Pacific Ocean, carrying tremendous amounts of water. They occur most often during certain weather patterns, including El Niño, which can increase their frequency or intensity, though they can occur in other years as well. Atmospheric rivers are the largest transport mechanisms of freshwater on Earth, according to NASA. These long, narrow corridors of air heavy with moisture are sometimes called "rivers in the sky." How to prepare for an atmospheric river The weather service in Portland said residents should take these steps to prepare for the heavy rain:
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Yahoo
‘This is a tough one': Gov. Cox visits crews fighting Monroe Canyon Fire, containment drops as fire passes 55,000 acres
RICHFIELD, Utah () — Containment drops to 7% on the burning near Richfield in Sevier County, Utah. It has grown another 7,000 acres in the past 24 hours to 55,642 acres due to active winds, according to the latest information released by the Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team on Friday. As of Friday, August 1 at 12:45 p.m., evacuation orders for people living in certain areas of Monroe Canyon have been lifted, according to the . Highway 24 has been opened for now but there will most likely be partial or full closures in the next few days. Currently, Burrville, parts of Poverty Flat, Magleby, Monroe Meadows, Cover mountain, Elk Country Cabins, Long Flat, Big lake, Porters and areas around Mormon Peak are under evacuation orders. Officials said they expect wind speeds to be slightly lower on Friday with gusts in the 20 mph range. Inversions have been lifting around noon each day, in turn increasing airflow into the fire. Governor visits firefighters There are about 1,217 fire personnel fighting Utah's largest wildfire of the season and officials say there are many more on standby. 'It's been a long time since we have had a fire of this magnitude that is impacting so many communities,' Governor Spencer Cox (R-Utah) said as he visited firefighters on site. 'The problem is that next 14 days don't look great with low humidity and high winds. My message to people across the state is that we can have a fire in any part of our state,… We need everyone to exercise extreme fire caution right now.' Cox added that if Utah sees another fire like this it would be much harder to fight it and strain our resources. He has also as over 100,000 acres have been burnt due to the ongoing wildfires. PREVIOUSLY: Monroe Canyon Fire grows over 11,000 acres in 24 hours, crosses 48,000 acres due to active winds Firefighting operations On Thursday, crews said the fire crossed the Bear Valley Road and pushed the fire towards Highway 24, prompting a road closure. Highway 24 will continue to remain closed for firefighter and public safety until the threat of the fire has passed. Crews had to extend their shift into the night to contain the fire along the highway, officials noted. Around Burrville, crews said they are working diligently to prepare structures and strengthen the fire line above the town. The town is currently under evacuation orders. The fire burnt sagebrush fuel types, causing the smoke column to turn black in color. Crews said they have constructed a line to the south end of this fire and will continue to build on it through the day today to protect the town. To the south of Monroe, crews continued firing operations along the Dry Creek drainage towards Spring Canyon, building off retardant lines that had been placed by aircraft over the last few days. 'When conditions allow, crews hope to utilize UAS systems to assist in firing operations to add depth to that line,' the team said in a press release. Crews around the Bagley Ranch area saw another day of spotting, where they saw pockets of new fires at a distance from the main fire, but have successfully extinguished all new starts. Suppression of such fire spots will continue in Magleby down to Manning Meadows. In the Long Flat area, crews said they re-entered the area, assessed structures, performed mop-up, and suppressed lingering hot spots. They said they are also building a fire perimeter at the foot of the hills east of Annabella and Glenwood to check up the fire if it comes down off the mountain. Power restored Power on Thursday at around 8:30 p.m. Over 3000 customers were without power since Wednesday at 3 p.m. Garkane Energy Cooperative said crews were able to make temporary repairs by reworking the lines and bracing damaged poles. There are about 12 power lines that have been completely destroyed. Latest headlines: Salt Lake City firefighters rescue several people in early morning abandoned building fire Safest Car Rankings for 2025 $1.2 million in fentanyl, heroin seized in San Juan County traffic stop Texas House committee advances GOP-friendly map Monroe Canyon Fire continues to grow amid high winds, community meeting scheduled Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
01-08-2025
- New York Post
How ‘fire clouds' caused by Arizona and Utah wildfires are creating their own erratic climate
Two wildfires burning in the western United States — including one that has become a 'megafire' on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon — are so hot that they are spurring the formation of 'fire clouds' that can create their own erratic weather systems. In Arizona, the wind-whipped wildfire that destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge is 9% contained and has charred more than 164 square miles (424 square kilometers) to become the largest fire now burning in the continental U.S. and one of the top 10 largest in recorded Arizona history. Getting around it would be roughly like driving from New York City to Washington, D.C. Advertisement 7 Two wildfires burning in the western United States — including one that has become a 'megafire' on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon — are spurring the formation of 'fire clouds.' AP Another large fire in Monroe, Utah, has burned 75 square miles (194 square kilometers) since July 13 and is 11% contained, officials said Thursday. Evacuation orders were issued Wednesday for several towns in the fire's path, and scorched power poles caused electricity to be shut off in other nearby communities in south-central Utah. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared an emergency Thursday as wildfires grew around the state and planned to visit Monroe on Friday. Advertisement 'Fire clouds' present challenges for firefighters Towering convection clouds known as pyrocumulus clouds have been spotted over Arizona's blaze for seven consecutive days, fueling the fire with dry, powerful winds, fire information officer Lisa Jennings said. They form when air over the fire becomes superheated and rises in a large smoke column. The giant billowing clouds can be seen for hundreds of miles and can resemble an anvil. Advertisement 7 Smoke rises from the Dragon Bravo Fire at the Grand Canyon as seen from Mather Point near Grand Canyon Village, Ariz., Monday, July 28, 2025. AP Their more treacherous big brother, a fire-fueled thunderstorm known as the pyrocumulonimbus cloud, sent rapid winds shooting in all directions this week as a smoke column formed from the Utah fire then collapsed on itself, fire team information officer Jess Clark said. 'If they get high enough, they can also create downdrafts, and that's something we really watch out for because that can quickly spread the fire and can be very dangerous for firefighters who are doing their work on the ground,' Jennings said. Multiple fire crews in Utah were forced to retreat Wednesday as the unpredictable climate created by the clouds threatened their safety, officials said. Advertisement 7 Towering convection clouds known as pyrocumulus clouds have been spotted over Arizona's blaze for seven consecutive days. AP Fire crews in both Utah and Arizona had better control of the blazes, but containment has been slipping as the fires grow rapidly. The same type of cloud, which the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has dubbed the 'fire-breathing dragon of clouds,' recently formed a fire tornado that tore through an eastern Utah neighborhood with wind speeds estimated at 122 miles (196 kilometers) per hour. 'Think of the fire as kind of like a hot-air balloon, so it adds buoyancy and things rise as a result,' said Derek Mallia, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Utah who studies pyrocumulonimbus clouds and tracks fires in Utah and Arizona. 'You get this towering thunderstorm over the fire, and just like any other thunderstorm, it gets really windy underneath it. Because it's the West, these thunderstorms tend to be very dry.' These clouds, he said, may appear more frequently as climate change causes a longer fire season, drought conditions, and extreme weather events. Dry conditions fuel Grand Canyon 'megafire' A megafire — although not a formal scientific term — generally is a fire that has burned at least 156 square miles (404 square kilometers) — or about half the size of New York City. Advertisement The Dragon Bravo Fire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park surpassed that mark in the latest update on Thursday. It was sparked by lightning on July 4 and is being managed by the park to benefit the landscape. About a week later, officials switched to suppressing it as conditions deteriorated, with hot, dry, and windy weather pushing the flames toward the Grand Canyon Lodge and the historic cabins that surround it. 7 The Monroe Canyon Fire blazes near Monroe, Utah, July 16. AP Advertisement The fire destroyed dozens of buildings and forced the closure of the North Rim for the rest of the season as hundreds of firefighters struggled to gain an upper hand. Thursday marked the eighth straight day of historically dry conditions, Jennings said. Humidity levels have been in the single digits, fuel moisture levels are extremely low, and wind gusts were expected to crank up to 35 miles per hour (54.7 kilometers per hour). The pyrocumulus clouds have reached heights of at least 25,000 feet (7,620 meters), and fire behavior analyst Arthur Gonzales said they could go higher. Advertisement 7 Multiple fire crews in Utah were forced to retreat Wednesday as the unpredictable climate created by the clouds threatened their safety, officials said. AP The direction of the wind has been fairly consistent for crews working the Dragon Bravo Fire. Although they have been strong, the predictability has allowed fire managers to more easily position crews on the fire lines. But when pyrocumulus clouds form and the winds become less predictable, Jennings said firefighters often have to be pulled back to safety. Advertisement Fire prompts power outages in Utah Hot, dry winds fanned the flames of the Monroe Canyon Fire on Thursday as firefighters worked to contain the spread. The fire has burned 12 power poles, and many homes have been without electricity since Wednesday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for extreme fire danger in much of central and southwest Utah this week. In Antimony, Utah, 54 miles (87 kilometers) south of Monroe, the town's 123 residents were without power Thursday afternoon. Mayor Kasey King, who was helping people gather food and supplies at a community center, said they could be without power for a week. The power company, Garkane Energy Cooperative, said it is working to restore power as quickly as possible and has brought in backup generators. Marnie Reynolds, a resident of Antimony, worried for the town's many elderly residents. She has been using a camp stove to offer hot meals to neighbors and is using a generator to help people refrigerate groceries and medications. 'We have been facing a lot of challenges, but we have the best community,' she said. 7 Smoke and fires rise at sunset from the Dragon Bravo fire at the Grand Canyon as seen from Mather Point near Grand Canyon Village, Ariz., on July 28. AP 7 People take pictures in front of the 'fire clouds' at the Grand Canyon. AP In Richfield, Utah, 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Monroe, Lee Stevens said his yard was coated in ash. He and his wife, who has asthma and is sensitive to the smoke, have not yet been told to evacuate but are making preparations in case the fire spreads. The National Interagency Fire Center said Thursday that even with fewer square miles having burned so far this year than average, many parts of the country remain vulnerable to new starts and fast-moving flames.
