Dry conditions prevailed throughout the entire state in May, with a few scattered showers across northern and northeastern Arizona

Slight rainfall helped keep the drought status in many areas from further degradation, though regions of Mohave, Apache and La Paz counties intensified from moderate to severe drought

Lake Mead has dropped substantially to hold 45% of its capacity, while Lake Powell, the principal upstream reservoir, now holds just 42% of its capacity

Wildfires are a significant threat as hot, windy weather has caused even drier conditions in the western part of the state

Experts anticipate little relief until the monsoon season becomes active

Despite above-average rainfall throughout May, over 95% of the state is in moderate to exceptional drought, over 84% of the state is in severe to exceptional drought, and nearly 30% of the state in extreme to exceptional drought

Reservoir stores are only slightly more than half of normal levels

The NOAA forecasts conditions may improve in much of the state this summer

While the entire state is in drought, over 40% is in extreme drought and 11% in exceptional drought

Lake Tahoe is expected to drop below its natural rim around September, the earliest that has ever occurred in a decade

By early August, flows of the Truckee River will have dropped to the point that Reno’s water provider will have to resort to its back-up supplies for the first time in 20 years

Reservoir storage is about a third of normal

Extreme drought has left pinyon and juniper trees stressed and sickly, adding to growing concern of destructive wildfires

Danger of wildfire is especially severe in the timbered high country of the state

Statewide precipitation in May was below average, at 73%

Reservoir storage is down to 71% of capacity

Some regions of Utah are managing to stay out of drought, with precipitation ranging from 102% of normal in the Raft River Mountains to 74% in the Upper Sevier River Area

The lowest areas for precipitation this year include southwestern Utah at 58% of average and southeastern Utah at 64%

According to new reports, the Bear River Basin and the Wasatch Front are no longer considered drought-impacted

The National Climate Prediction Center forecasts suggest warmer conditions for western Utah over the summer months and near normal in the rest of the state

Roughly half of the state remains in some level of drought, while more than 15% of the state is in severe to exceptional drought

Southeastern Colorado is the hardest hit region, with less extreme drought conditions spread across the southern and eastern parts of the state

The South Platte River in northeastern Colorado is predicted to run 150% or higher of average due to heavy mountain snow last winter while rivers in the southwest are expected to be below 50% of average

Statewide, June precipitation has been 33% of average

The most recent U.S. Drought Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center indicates that while drought conditions will remain across southeast Colorado this summer, this is a good chance to see some continued improvement