DENVER (KDVR) — In the space of a month, winter storms have changed Colorado’s drought levels dramatically.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s most recent data, there are no areas in the Centennial State that are currently experiencing extreme drought conditions. However, some areas are still listed as experiencing severe and moderate drought or abnormally dry conditions.
The latest data was provided by USDM on Feb. 13. The week prior, on Feb. 6, the monitor reported that 1.95% of the state was experiencing extreme drought conditions. The USDM listed the extreme drought in portions of Costilla, Conejos, Alamosa and Rio Grande counties.
Areas of those counties are still arid, with all of those counties listed under moderate drought conditions and some of the areas still listed as severe drought conditions. However, as of Feb. 13, about 63% of the state had no drought conditions.
Another 36.8% of the state is experiencing at least abnormally dry conditions, and another 11.65% is listed under moderate drought conditions.
Data and image are provided through the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The USDM estimates about 123,117 Coloradans are currently living in drought areas.
The USDM data shows that in 2023, drought conditions were stronger. For data reported on Feb. 14, 2023, around 0.16% of the state was experiencing exceptional drought conditions, 2% was experiencing extreme drought conditions, and only 41.35% of Colorado was under no drought conditions at all.
Most of the drought conditions were on Colorado’s eastern plains, whereas current drought conditions are largely near the Continental Divide and the Four Corners Area.
However, two years ago drought conditions across the state were far more dire.
Around 8.55% of the state was under extreme drought levels, although no part of the state was then under exceptional drought conditions, which is the most dry condition in the USDM index. The monitor also listed all of Colorado under at least abnormally dry conditions, another 90.4% under moderate drought conditions, and almost 60% under severe drought conditions.
At the time all of the state was at least abnormally dry.
What changed to decrease Colorado’s drought?
According to the National Integrated Drought Information System and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Drought.gov website, Colorado had its wettest January on record since 1895.
The state received 1.1 inches of total precipitation during the month, which is about 0.04 inches above normal.
The National Weather Service is also predicting over an inch of precipitation within the next week in areas of Colorado — mostly over the northern Rockies.
According to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Colorado Snow Survey conditions map, as of Monday, Feb. 19, the state had 95% of its median precipitation for this date.
The data shows that while Colorado might not be setting records for how much water it’s currently receiving, the state is benefiting from the precipitation rates.
The USDA reported on Feb. 7 that the series of storms in January helped boost Colorado’s snowpack and precipitation totals.
“Above normal precipitation was observed across the state in January ranging from 115 percent of normal in the combined San Miguel-Dolores-Animas-San Juan River basin to 149 percent of normal in the Arkansas River basin,” the federal agency reported.
However, the February forecasts for streamflow volumes are “generally below normal,” with the Arkansas and Upper Rio Grand River basins forecasted to have 90% and 74% of normal, respectively.
Sangre De Cristo Creek is projected to be particularly hard hit, with a forecasted streamflow volume of around 25% of normal.
However, the Colorado Headwaters, Upper Rio Grande and the Arkansas River basins ended January with above-normal reservoir storage, at 112%, 119% and 113% of normal, respectively, according to the USDA. The lowest reservoir storage numbers in the state are at the Eastern Arkansas and the combined San Miguel-Dolores-Animas-San Juan River basins, with 83 and 87% of normal, respectively.
