August 4, 2016 (Micro-Briefing)
- July was another hotter-than-normal and drier-than-normal month for the region, though not quite as hot or dry as June. Most the region saw less than 70% of normal precipitation, while several areas had much-above-normal precipitation. Northern Utah and southern Wyoming were the driest parts of the region.
- Drought conditions have expanded in Wyoming and Utah, with abnormally dry (D0) or worse conditions now covering more than 55% of both states. The 2-week and 4-week EDDI maps indicate that during July, the atmosphere was unusually thirsty over most of Wyoming and nearly all of Utah, pointing to greater potential for further drought onset and intensification.
- Observed inflows to Lake Powell for April through July ended up at about 6630 KAF (93% of average and 102% of median), the third year in a row with inflows of 90-100% of average, following the extreme drought years of 2012 and 2013.
- According to ENSO model forecasts, a transition from the current ENSO-neutral to La Niña conditions during the coming fall and winter is still favored, but the likelihood has slipped since last month, to about 60%.