SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — After a mostly dry July, Utah experienced several monsoon storms in mid-August.

Laura Haskell of the Utah Division of Water Resources said most parts of the state have not seen much rain this summer.

“At the end of July, soil dryness was the biggest concern, and that’s what we were really concerned about. The recent storms have changed that quite a bit. So in most parts of the state, soil and moisture conditions are close to normal,” Haskell said.

The heat is a major problem due to the lack of humidity, which is why Haskell says water conservation measures are important as water demand increases in the summer.

MORE: Monsoon storm brings higher risks for afternoon thunderstorms and possible flooding

“We would like to see consistent rain in the fall. As we approach the end of the season, reducing evaporation keeps the soil moist because once the soil freezes, it gets locked in and a lot of water is lost to the soil through snowmelt in the spring if it is not moist,” Haskell said.

Haskell mentioned that about 95% of our water supply comes from snowpack, as monsoon water can sometimes be full of sediment that cannot be channeled into the basins.

“The big benefit of these big storms is increased soil moisture,” Haskell said.

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