Record Snowpack and Flooding in Utah During the Winter of 2004–05

Five years of drought in Utah came to a sudden and dramatic end during the winter of 2004-05 as an active southern storm track brought record amounts of precipitation to the area. Heavy rains brought mid-winter flash flooding and mainstem river flooding repeatedly to parts of southern Utah, and at high elevations record snowpacks were deposited by the numerous storms. The usual snowmelt period was reduced in time by a cool, wet spring that eventually gave way to the usual warmth. The result was record flooding in streams due to snowmelt. On the plus side, nearly every water-supply reservoir in the state filled.