Recent water year was the driest on record in both Blanding and Bluff

Blanding and Bluff both experienced their driest years on record for the water years that ended September 30.
Bluff received just 2.08 inches of rain for the entire year.  That total is significantly below the prior driest year on record, which was 3 inches in 1955.
Similarly, Blanding received just 3.54 inches of precipitation for the entire year.  The previous driest year on record was 1956, with 4.93 inches.
The dry conditions, with lower than normal precipitation each month for months on end, have contributed to a water crisis for San Juan County.  Farmers and ranchers struggled through the summer and have looked with uncertainty at conditions leading into the winter season.  Dry soil and limited grass may continue the challenges into the future.
The new water year has had a great start, with nearly a full week of rain and even snow in the forecast in the early days in October.
For the water year, Monticello received 8.48 inches of rain, which is just 56 percent of the average of 15.1 inches.
Compared to Monticello, Bluff and Blanding were both significantly drier.  The 2.03 inches for the year in Bluff is less than 27 percent of the average annual rainfall of 7.75 inches.
Similarly, the 3.54 inches of rain in Blanding is less than 27 percent oft he average annual rain of 13.3 inches.
The totals for September continued the drier than normal trend. All three area communities were below the average rainfall totals for the month.

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