Spatial patterns and teleconnections of Utah-based droughts in the contiguous U.S.A.

The drought history of the Dixie, Utah Climatic Division (DUCD) is used to examine concurrent moisture patterns across the U.S.A. when drought is firmly established in the arid intermountain west. The 20 drought events identified in this climatic division during the 94 year, 4-month study period are broken down into cold and warm-season subsets. Isoline maps of average values of the Palmer Drought Severity Index for all United States climatic divisions show that droughts associated with the DUCD are widespread in both cold and warm-seasons. Regions which are clearly in and out-of-phase with the western core region of drought are identified.