Gov. Cox declares July 2 a ‘statewide day of prayer’ following record-breaking snow year

Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox signs bills on March 23, 2023. Photo: Utah State Office of the Governor

SALT LAKE CITY – Gov. Spencer Cox announced that July 2, 2023, will be a statewide day of prayer and thanksgiving in Utah following a record-breaking year of snowfall.

Governor Cox is asking faith leaders and all Utahns to join in offering prayers and thanksgivings for the incredible amount of snow Utah received this past Winter.

Park City Mountain Resort received upwards of 500-inches of snow this past Winter, breaking the record for the most snowfall in a single season in the resort’s 49-year history. The runoff from the snow has remarkably improved the conditions of Summit and Wasatch Counties’ reservoirs, which are all currently near or at full water-level capacity.

The declaration signed by the Governor states; “by praying collaboratively and collectively and asking our higher powers for more snow and rain, Utah received record-breaking snowfall this winter season and ideal spring runoff circumstances.”

Utah is no stranger to unprecedented drought conditions, and has experienced extremely low soil moisture and reservoir storage. Since 2000, drought has affected parts of the state almost every year, with ‘extreme’ and ‘exceptional’ drought conditions occurring across the entire state in 2021 and 2022.

Governor Cox has been asking Utahns to unite in a prayer for more precipitation for the past two years, and now he is asking Utahns to display prayers of gratitude for the high-levels of snowfall received.

“I believe prayer can be a powerful tool,” Governor Cox said. “There is real power in people of all different faiths and backgrounds uniting together and pleading for help from a higher authority than our own. I also believe that people who pray for water will conserve water, and we need to continue to conserve.”

The record-breaking snow year has also drastically increased water-levels throughout the state, as almost all of the state’s reservoirs are full, the Great Salt Lake has risen five-and-a-half feet, and Lake Powell is up more than 60 feet.