DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT – Slow Improvement In Drought Conditions Continue

January 2019 Drought Map

National Weather Service National Weather Service Pueblo, CO 

SYNOPSIS…Updated 

Abundant and beneficial snow across much of Colorado`s Mountains over the past few months has prompted the US Drought Monitor to improve the Exceptional Drought (D4) conditions that has plagued southwest Colorado over the past year. With that said, the latest Drought Monitor, issued Thursday February 14th 2019, is now indicting all of Mineral County in Extreme Drought (D3) conditions. 

Moderate Drought (D1) conditions are depicted across Teller County and the rest of El Paso County, as well as across northeastern Fremont County, southern Pueblo County, Crowley County, western and northeastern Otero County, western Kiowa County, northwestern Bent County and central into eastern portions of Las Animas County. 

Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions are indicated across central into eastern portions of Kiowa County, the rest Otero County, northern Bent County, northwestern Prowers County, and eastern portions of Las Animas County. 

Drought free conditions are depicted across Baca County, extreme northeastern Las Animas County, southern 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 across non snow covered areas could be moderate to high at times into the early Spring. 

AGRICULTURAL 

Summer through early Winter 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 lull throughout December, statewide January precipitation at 116 percent of average helped to bring the 2019 Water Year total back to above normal, at 102 percent of average overall. 

In the Arkansas Basin, January precipitation was 128 percent of average overall, which brings water year to date precipitation to 106 percent of average. In the Rio Grande Basin, January precipitation was 108 percent of average overall, which brings water year to date precipitation to 91 percent of average. 

Statewide snowpack on February 1st came in at 105 percent of average overall, which is 171 percent of the available snowpack at this time last year. 

Arkansas Basin snowpack on February 1st came in at 123 percent of average overall, which is 218 percent of the available snowpack at this time last year. This is mainly due to the 150 to 175 percent of average snowpack across southern portions of the basin, which is in stark contrast to the lack of snowpack across the southern portions of the Arkansas Basin at this time last year. 

Rio Grande Basin snowpack on February 1st came in at 81 percent of average overall, which is 246 percent of the available snowpack at this time last year. 

Statewide water storage came in at 83 percent of average overall at the end of January, 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 January came in at 89 percent of average overall, as compared to 140 percent of average storage available at this time last year. 

In the Rio Grande Basin, water storage at the end of January came in at 79 percent of average overall, as compared to 122 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 below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation across South Central and Southeast Colorado. The outlook for the rest of February, March and April gives better chances for warmer than normal temperatures and a slight nod to above precipitation across the area.