For the third month in a row, Tooele City has received more precipitation than normal.
The city received 1.51 inches of total precipitation in January. Average, or “normal,” precipitation for January is 1.07 inches, according to Ned Bevan, a cooperative weather observer for the National Weather Service.
Despite the wet winter, the U.S. Drought Monitor continues to classify the majority of Tooele County as being in a D2 or “severe” drought. However, the D2 drought area is slightly smaller than it was last month and the drought monitor predicts the county’s drought status will improve as the season continues.
In the mountains above Tooele and Rush valleys, the Utah Snow Survey recorded above-average snowpack totals at each of its three snow telemetry sites for the second month in a row.
The Oquirrh Mountains’ Rocky Basin in Settlement Canyon reported at 136 percent of normal, Mining Fork in the Stansbury Mountains above Grantsville at 122 percent of normal and Vernon Creek in the Sheeprock Mountains at 151 percent of normal, said Randy Julander, snow survey supervisor.
The last time all three Snotel stations were above 100 percent was in 2011, he added.
The winter’s frequent storms are also boosting water supplies.
“The reservoir is coming up,” said Gary Bevan, president of Settlement Canyon Irrigation Company. “I think we’re looking really good.”
At this point in the water year, Ned Bevan noted Tooele should be at 6.05 inches of total precipitation. Currently, the city is at 6.62 inches.
Water years begin Oct. 1 and end Sept. 30.
In November, Tooele City received 1.94 inches of total precipitation; in December, it received 2.13 inches. Normal precipitation totals for November and December are 1.69 and 1.48 inches, respectively, Ned Bevan said.
Total snowfall for January was 14.5 inches, nearly two inches above the month’s average of 12.7 inches. So far the total snowfall for the 2015-16 weather year is 56 inches, above the normal total of 43.5 inches, he said.
According to the Climate Prediction Center, over the next three months southern Tooele County may receive above-average precipitation. Northern Tooele County has an equal chance for above-average, average or below-average precipitation.
The Climate Prediction Center also forecast above-average temperatures in northern Tooele County, while southern Tooele County has an equal chance for above-average, average or below-average temperatures.
In Tooele City last month, the temperature ranged between 19.7 degrees and 37.2 degrees on average. The coldest temperature was negative one degree, recorded on Jan. 1. The highest temperature, 51 degrees, was recorded on Jan. 30, Ned Bevan said.
The average temperature in Tooele County last month was 27.8 degrees. Normal for January is 30.8 degrees, said Bill Ash, observation program leader for the National Weather Service office in Elko, Nevada.