Drought Information Statement from NWS

Drought Map, Dec 2018

Drought Conditions Persist Across Most of South Central and Southeast Colorado 

SYNOPSIS 

The latest US Drought Monitor, issued Thursday December 13th, is indicating Exceptional Drought (D4) conditions confined to Southwest Colorado, including extreme westerly Rio Grande County and the western 2/3rds of Mineral County. 

Extreme Drought (D3) conditions remain depicted across the rest of Mineral and Rio Grande Counties, as well as all of Saguache, Conejos, Alamosa and Costilla Counties. Extreme Drought (D3) conditions also remain depicted across extreme southwestern Lake County, most of Chaffee County, extreme southern Fremont County, most of Custer County, western portions of Huerfano County, western and southwestern portions of Las Animas Counties and extreme southwestern portions of Pueblo County. 

Severe Drought (D2) conditions are indicated across the rest of Lake County, southeastern Chaffee County, northwestern through southeastern Fremont County and extreme southern and eastern portions of El Paso County. Severe Drought (D2) conditions are also depicted across thethe rest of Pueblo and Huerfano Counties, extreme northeastern Custer County, extreme western portions of Otero County and western into central portions of Las Animas County. 

Moderate Drought (D1) conditions are depicted across northeastern Fremont County, most of Teller County, and extreme southwestern into central portions of El Paso County. Moderate Drought (D1)conditions are also indicated across Crowley County, most of Otero County, western Kiowa County, extreme northwestern Bent County and central into eastern portions of Las Animas County. 

Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions are indicated across northeastern Teller and northwestern El Paso Counties, central into eastern Kiowa County, extreme southeastern Otero County, the rest of Bent County, western Prowers County, eastern Las Animas County, and extreme northwestern and southwestern portions of Baca County. 

Drought free conditions remain depicted across extreme east central Las Animas County, most of Baca County, eastern Prowers County, and extreme eastern Kiowa County.

FIRE DANGER

Fall precipitation helped to ease fire danger across much of South Central and Southeast Colorado. However, with cured fuels and more windy weather associated with the Winter Season, fire danger could increase across the area over the next few months. 

AGRICULTURAL 

Summer and Fall precipitation helped to improve soil moisture, especially across southeastern portions of the state. The latest monthly Evaporative Demand Index across the state is indicating near normal to slightly above normal moisture across the area. However, longer term dryness continues to be indicated across South Central Colorado and into the Eastern Mountains. 

HYDROLOGIC 

After a great start to the 2019 Water Year (October 2018-September 2019), November precipitation came in slightly below average across the state at 98 percent of average overall. However, this is well above the 58 percent of average precipitation recorded across the state throughout November of 2017. 

Statewide snowpack on December 1st came in at 115 percent of average overall, as compared to 59 percent of average overall at the same time last year. 

In the Arkansas Basin, November precipitation came in at 102 percent of average overall, as compared to 57 percent of average at the same time last year. In the Upper Arkansas Basin, November precipitation came in at 140 percent of average overall, as compared to 79 percent of average at the same time last year. 

Arkansas Basin snowpack on December 1st came in at 152 percent of average overall, with the Upper Arkansas Basin coming in at 159 percent of average overall, as as compared to 57 percent and 96 percent of average, respectively, at the same time last year. 

In the Rio Grande Basin, November precipitation came in at 53 percent of average overall, as compared to 49 percent of average at this same time last year. 

Rio Grande Basin snowpack on December 1st came in at 85 percent of average overall, as compared to 41 percent of average at the same time last year. 

Statewide water storage came in at 80 percent of average overall at the end of November, as compared to 118 percent of average storage available statewide at the same time last year. 

In the Arkansas Basin, the end of November storage came in at 101 percent of average overall, as compared to 159 percent of average storage available at the same time last year. 

In the Rio Grande Basin, end of November storage came in at 79 percent of average overall, as compared to 127 percent of average storage available at the same time last year.

PRECIPITATION/TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK 

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) outlook for the next week indicates better chances of above normal temperatures and equal chances of above, below and near normal precipitation across South Central and Southeast Colorado. The outlook for the rest December, January and February gives better chances for warmer than normal temperatures and a slight nod to above precipitation across the area. 

National Weather Service National Weather Service Pueblo Co
1:12 PM MST Sat Dec 15, 2018