Climate change in Utah

Köppen climate types in Utah, showing that the state is primarily cold semi-arid, with large patches of cold desert and a substantial corridor of warm-summer Mediterranean continental.

Climate change in Utah encompasses the effects of climate change, attributed to man-made increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in the U.S. state of Utah.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that "Utah's climate is changing. The state has warmed about two degrees (F) in the last century. Throughout the western United States, heat waves are becoming more common, and snow is melting earlier in spring. In the coming decades, the changing climate is likely to decrease the flow of water in Utah's rivers, increase the frequency and intensity of wildfires, and decrease the productivity of ranches and farms".[1] Another analysis found that Utah's temperature increase from 1970 to 2019 was the fifth highest in the nation, leading to an increasing intensity of wildfires.[2] A changing climate was also reported as leading to increased flooding in Utah during winter months, followed by hot and dry summers, a cycle potentially harmful for agriculture.[3]

  1. ^ "What Climate Change Means for Utah" (PDF). United States Environmental Protection Agency. August 2016.
  2. ^ Neumann, Erik (April 17, 2019). "Climate Analysis Finds Utah Temperatures Rose Fifth Fastest In The Country Since 1970". KUER-FM.
  3. ^ St. Clair, Cindy; Poulson, Sterling; Knowles, Hannah (January 12, 2018). "Utah's climate is changing, how will it affect the state?". KUTV.