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SALT LAKE CITY — November storms lifted much of the state out of a dry beginning to the water year, leaving the state about average in terms of how much precipitation has fallen.
The latest climate and water report released by the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Utah Snow Survey said monthly precipitation went from October's 20 percent of average to 95 percent for November.
While soil moisture levels are dropping, stream flows are average or near average, and reservoir storage on average across the state is slightly ahead of this time last year at 58 percent, according to the report.
Precipitation has treated the two ends of the state far differently so far this season. In the northern reaches of the Bear River region, November precipitation was 119 percent of average, while the Raft River area to the west was 177 percent of average.
In contrast, southern Utah's Dixie region received just 58 percent of the average precipitation and so far this year is just 29 percent of where it should be. The Dixie region, as well as dry Tooele County, remain two of the state's troubled spots when it comes to drought.
Most of the state, in fact, remains in moderate drought, with areas of the western portion classified as severe by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
So far, December has turned out to be dry and warm.
The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City reported that Saturday's temperatures hit a high of 58, tying a record set in 1987 on Dec. 6. Temperatures are expected to remain abnormally high through the week, with Thursday projected to inch near 60.
The balmy weather in Utah is playing out even as Gov. Gary Herbert is attending a weekend winter conference of the Western Governors Association, where the region's drought was high on the list of the topics discussed.
The exceptional drought gripping California is said to be the worst in the state's recorded history.
