Rains finally arrive, bring soaking storm

by Bill Boyle
San Juan Record Editor
Rains have finally arrived in San Juan County, at the end of a summer in which the annual monsoon season never fully materialized. Area residents are hoping that a few days of rain will extend into a late – but much appreciated – rainy season.
After a long dry stretch, Monticello has received nearly .65 inches of rain over a four-day period starting August 22 through mid-day on August 26.
Blanding received its first significant rain total since early June when .42 fell overnight on August 26.
In the 48 days between June 7 and August 26, Blanding received measurable precipitation on just two days, slight 0.07” on July 31 and a paltry 0.03” on August 16.
Bluff has also been bone-dry for most of the summer. A total of 0.11” fell overnight on August 26, adding to the 0.08” that had fallen in two light storms earlier in August.
This comes on the heels of just 0.06” of rain in June and 0.05” in July.
For the water year, which ends of September 30, total precipitation in Bluff has been less than half of the historic average.
This water year represents a significant change over prior years, with almost no rain in July and August, during what is generally the wettest two months of the year.
Records suggest that 2025 is the driest summer season in decades, coming on the heels of a dry winter that already depleted area reservoirs and drained the moisture in the soil.
Irrigation water has been limited through the summer and area dry land farmers completed the recent winter wheat harvest with lower yields than they had hoped.
In addition, local municipalities have adjusted water rates in an attempt to encourage conservation.
The most impactful weather-related event of the summer of 2025 has been the Deer Creek Fire, which burned nearly 20,000 acres starting near Old La Sal and extending northeast into the high country.
More than a dozen homes and other structures were consumed in the blaze, which started on July 11.
The fire also prompted a “fire-nado” that was classified as an EF-2 (Significant) tornado by the National Weather Service.
Law enforcement officials state that charges are pending for the fire, which was reportedly triggered by humans.
Area reservoirs continue to drop as the dry conditions continue.
The water level in Loyds Lake, west of Monticello, has dropped by 15 feet over the course of the summer and now holds just one-third of its capacity.
Similarly, the water level in Recapture Reservoir, north of Blanding, has dropped by nine feet over the course of the summer, and currently holds 38 percent of capacity.
The water level in Lake Powell, the major reservoir in the area, has dropped by 13 feet over the summer and now holds just 29 percent of its capacity.
Lake Powell has dropped 32 feet since last summer.