Snowpack

Drought and climate change have cut deep into the Colorado River's reservoirs, and rains did little to boost Lake Powell and Lake Mead. There are some silver linings, though.

El Niño is expected to be strong this year, possibly the strongest on record. It's forecasted to give parts of Utah above-normal precipitation, but it's still a toss-up in northern Utah.

Rapid melting can be difficult for water managers to plan around because reservoirs are built for a gradual influx of snow. That can lead to more flooding without more long-term water supply.

In other news, fire evacuations in Millard and Summit County were lifted. And, after a lackluster ski season, Park City Mountain is looking ahead to its next opening.

This week, Tom Williams talks with Salt Lake Tribune reporters Leia Larsen, Tony Semerad, and Emily Anderson Stern about opinions surrounding Box Elder county's recently approved data center.

In other news, a Utah Supreme Court Justice has resigned after facing scrutiny from Republicans about an alleged conflict of interest. And, an emergency drought declaration could come this month.

In other news, Utah gas prices jumped 20 cents in the last week. And, don't panic if you see smoke along Great Salt Lake's eastern shore this weekend — it's probably not a wildfire.

Just 1.4 million acre feet of Colorado River water is expected to reach Lake Powell through July. That's less than a quarter of what's considered normal.

In other news, Salt Lake City is entering a mild water shortage advisory — and other cities could follow in the coming months, with heat worsening Utah's already poor snowpack.

Snowpack is often described as the West's largest natural reservoir — and the way forests are managed can affect how much of that snow becomes part of the water supply, according to new research.