Connect with us

Utah

Utah is now completely out of drought status

Published

on

Utah is now completely out of drought status


SALT LAKE CITY — For the first time in five years, the entire state of Utah is out of a drought status.

The latest map from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows no part of the state being in drought status, though about 25% is still considered abnormally dry.

“Portions of the state, mainly along that eastern and southern border, are abnormally dry,” KSL Meteorologist Matt Johnson said. “But basically, we are completely out of a drought.”

Johnson says this is because Utah’s most recent wet winters have been crucial in restoring the state’s water supply.

Advertisement

“We’ve had two really good winters, one of them record-setting, as far as snow-water equivalent. So this has been huge for getting us on the right path.”

However, Johnson said whether we stay out of drought conditions will be contingent on how hot it gets this summer, and how much rain Utah gets when monsoon season hits. 

“If we’re not in a drought, now we are planning for the next,” Johnson said, quoting a saying from The Utah Department of Natural Resources. “That just kind of comes with the territory…we are one of the top three driest on average so it’s not foreign territory for us to have dry weather.”

Related reading:

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.



Source link

Advertisement

Utah

New NBA Draft Intel: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Utah

Published

on

New NBA Draft Intel: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Utah


On the Sean O’Connell Show, Krysten Peek joined the show to talk about all things NBA Draft, and she brought some incredible insight and intel. If you haven’t listened, make sure you do here:

If you don’t have a chance to listen, here are the different insights she brought:



Source link

Continue Reading

Utah

Utah suicide rates twice national average, Summit County Health Department says

Published

on

Utah suicide rates twice national average, Summit County Health Department says


Summit County Health Director Phil Bondurant said the early 2026 survey found men are suffering with significant mental and behavioral health challenges between the ages of 10 and 44. In the U.S., Bondurant said, suicide is the second leading cause of death, behind unintentional injury.

“It’s the eighth leading cause of death nationally across all ages of men,” he said on KPCW’s “Local News Hour” June 8. “When we look at this in Utah, we are two times the national average in suicides, and when you look at men, three of the four suicides in the state of Utah are men.”

He said that’s disproportionate to women. Roughly 31 out of 100,000 suicide deaths in Utah are men while less than 9 deaths per 100,000 are women.

FULL INTERIVEW: Summit County Health Department Phil Bondurant

Advertisement

Bondurant said those statistics are related to men feeling isolated, experiencing depression and uncertainty about the future. But, he said the health department has worked to develop programs to break the stigma around men’s mental health and help people access care.

“It’s important that we remember that connection, conversation, help and support, just like our physical health, when we’re not feeling well or we break a bone, we go to the doctor, and they do what they do to help us get better and help our bodies mend,” he said. “Our mental health is the same way, we need to take care of it.”

He said uninsured residents that need help can call the health department and speak with the behavioral health team.

There is also a 24-hour 988 crisis hotline for people who need help or know someone who needs help. Utahns can also download the SafeUT app to speak with licensed counselors, submit safety tips and confidential help.

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

Utah

Adventure travel draws families to Moab, Utah, as Americans stay closer to home

Published

on

Adventure travel draws families to Moab, Utah, as Americans stay closer to home


Family adventure travel bookings are up 106% annually from 2025, says Explore Worldwide. Domestic travel remains strong, so much so that Expedia calls this the “Stay Home Summer” as searches for cities near national parks and domestic beaches jump meaningfully….



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending