DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT – Friday, Jan. 11, 2019

National Weather Service Pueblo Co

Drought Conditions Continue Across Most of South Central and Southeast Colorado

SYNOPSIS

The latest US Drought Monitor, issued Thursday January 11th, is indicating Exceptional Drought (D4) conditions confined to Southwestern portions of Colorado, including the western 2/3rds of Mineral County and extreme western portions of Rio Grande County.

Extreme Drought (D3) conditions are depicted across extreme western and southwestern portions of Las Animas County and extreme southwestern portions of Pueblo County.

Severe Drought (D2) conditions are now indicated across extreme western Otero County and western into central portions of Las Animas County.

Moderate Drought (D1) conditions remain indicated across northeastern Fremont County, 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 central into eastern portions of Kiowa County, extreme southeastern Otero County, the rest of Bent County, northwestern Prowers County, and eastern portions of Las Animas County.

Drought free conditions are depicted across Baca County, extreme southeastern Bent County, most of Prowers County and eastern portions of 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. However, longer term dryness continues to be indicated across South Central and Southwest Colorado.

HYDROLOGIC

After a great start to the 2019 Water Year (October 2018-September 2019), November and December statewide precipitation has lowered the Water Year total down to 97 percent of average overall. December statewide precipitation came in at 64 percent of average overall, which is still above the 50 percent of average precipitation recorded across the state throughout December of 2017.

In the Arkansas Basin, December precipitation came in at 64 percentof average overall, as compared to 53 percent of average overall at the same time last year. In the Rio Grande Basin, December precipitation came in at 58 percent of average overall, as compared to 21 percent of average at this time last year.

Statewide snowpack on January 1st came in at 93 percent of average overall, as compared to 54 percent of average overall at this time last year.

Arkansas Basin snowpack on January 1st came in at 116 percent of average overall, with the Upper Arkansas Basin coming in at 121 percent of average overall, as as compared to 48 percent and 81 percent of average, respectively, at this time last year.

Rio Grande Basin snowpack on January 1st came in at 70 percent of average overall, as compared to 29 percent of average at the same time last year.

Statewide water storage came in at 81 percent of average overall at the end of December, as compared to 115 percent of average storage available statewide at this time last year.

In the Arkansas Basin, water storage at the end of December came in at 92 percent of average overall, as compared to 139 percent of average storage available at this time last year.

In the Rio Grande Basin, water storage at the end of December came in at 80 percent of average overall, as compared to 123 percent of average storage available at this time last year.

PRECIPITATION/TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK…

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