Subpar snowfall has turned Utah into a minefield for wildfires — and recent weather conditions are fanning the flames. As of June 25, over 140,000 acres had already burned in 354 fires across the Beehive State. … Areas of Utah that are 3,500 feet and higher — that’s most of the state — could be set up for a particularly big fire season because of the earlier snow melt and heavier fuels in forested areas. … This year is also an El Nino year, which means warmer waters cause the Pacific jet stream winds to move south — leading to weather that tends to be warmer and drier in the northern U.S. and wetter in the southeast. … [I]t can occasionally bring lots of moisture to the state and help with Utah’s dire snowpack conditions come winter time.

Other weather and water forecast news:

• ABC7 (Denver, Colo.): Colorado’s climate check-in: Heat, air quality, drought and the El Niño outlook