How wet was Utah's October? The wettest in over 50 years

SALT LAKE CITY — Last month's precipitation, led by hurricane remnants and other subtropical moisture, created flooding in parts of Utah, record-high statewide fall soil moisture levels and helped chip away at the state's drought.

It was also the most precipitation Utah has received in one October in a little more than a half-century, according to new federal climate data.

The Beehive State collected, on average, 3.55 inches last month, marking its third-wettest October since 1895, according to preliminary data released by the National Centers for Environmental Information on Monday. Last month's total fell just 0.14 inches short of the 1972 record, with 1941's 3.65 inches remaining in second.

Utah's average temperature last month was also 53.4 degrees, tying 1933 and 1952 for the state's seventh-warmest October on record.

The data is based on a collection of sites scattered across the state, but it was a strong month across the state.

Kane County set a precipitation record last month, averaging 3.39 inches of precipitation countywide, but six other Utah counties posted top-five wettest Octobers on record, and many others posted top-10 wettest Octobers.

Morgan and Rich counties posted the lowest totals, in terms of where last month landed in their history books. However, both still posted well-above-normal totals that ranked 22nd since 1895.

A tremendous start to the water year

What was released on Monday follows new data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which reported that precipitation levels collected at its Soil Climate Analysis Network sites were 488% of normal for October.

The network measures soil moisture in valley areas, but it was only established in the 1990s, so last month's numbers appear more extreme than the National Centers for Environmental Information data.

"October precipitation in Utah's valley locations was, quite literally, off the charts," wrote Jordan Clayton, a hydrologist for the Conservation Service, in a report released late last week.

The agency also reported its highest-ever fall mountain soil moisture average at the start of this month. That sets the state up for a better snowpack runoff next spring. The precipitation also chipped away at the state's drought severity.

The precipitation hasn't, however, produced that much mountain snow — yet.

Utah's average statewide snowpack is just 70% of normal for this point of the year, although that typically ramps up in the winter before peaking in the early spring. Snowpack accounts for approximately 95% of the state's water supply.

Utah's drought situation has mostly been tied to its record-low snowpack last water year. Gov. Spencer Cox referenced that at the end of his monthly briefing with reporters on Monday.

"Keep praying for snow," he said in his parting message.

A fall record to be broken?

Snow or rain, Utah is now on pace for one of its wettest meteorological falls on record after October's collection, per National Centers for Environmental Information.

It has now collected 5.18 inches since Sept. 1, the start of the season, which matches 2006 as Utah's 10th-wettest fall since 1895.

Utah only needs to average 1.51 inches statewide this month to break the 132-year-old fall record of 6.68 inches set in fall 1982. That seems possible if it hasn't happened already.

The numbers released on Monday don't include the latest fall storm, which delivered 1.39 inches in places like Salt Lake City, 1.55 inches in St. George and multiple inches in mountain sites over the first few days of November.

Long-range models hint that another storm could reach Utah this weekend or the start of next week, pushing out a high-pressure ridge that has recently ceased storm activity, said KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson.

It's too early to know how much it will produce, but it could nudge Utah over the record if it hasn't already been set.

Full seven-day forecasts for areas across Utah can be found at the KSL Weather Center or on the KSL Weather app.

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