SALT LAKE CITY-A report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects a “strong likelihood” for above-average temperatures in Utah this summer.

It is also projecting below-average precipitation for northern Utah and most of the Pacific Northwest.

An equal chance of last season’s precipitation is being projected for both central and southern Utah presently.

The Great Basin Coordination Center of Salt Lake City is currently predicting above-normal fire conditions for most of the Beehive State this summer.

This comes following a dry summer in Utah as Salt Lake City is 3.75 inches below average per National Weather Service data.

As of last Thursday, 5 percent of Utah is in severe drought and Wasatch County is presently abnormally dry.

At this time last year, 2 percent of Utah was in severe drought.

Presently, fire officials in Utah are using a model from the GBCC for fires that explores such factors as weather outlooks, snowpack, drought and soil moisture conditions.

Above-normal fire conditions are expected in southern and central Utah for June. In July, above-normal conditions remain in central Utah but expand into northern Utah, including Wasatch County, as well.

August is a propitious portent for the Beehive State at this stage as the above-normal conditions head toward Nevada and things appear to be normalizing in Utah at this time.