Improvement in Drought Conditions across South Central and Southeast Colorado

March 2019 Drought Map

DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT – Pueblo – Mar 21, 2019

SYNOPSIS

Abundant and much needed precipitation across Colorado`s High Country over the past few months has allowed the US Drought Monitor to indicate marked improvement in the drought that has plagued much of Colorado over the past year. Abundant precipitation through the first half of March, with statewide Colorado Snotel observations reporting 289 percent of average March precipitation through the first 19 days of the month, has allowed for continued improvement. With that said, the latest Drought Monitor, issued Thursday March 21st 2019, has removed all of the Extreme Drought (D3) conditions across the state, with Severe Drought (D2) conditions now confined to extreme southern portions of Costilla County, and extreme southwestern portions of Las Animas County.

Moderate Drought (D1) conditions are now depicted across most of the rest of Costilla County, extreme southeastern and southwestern portions of Conejos County, western portions of Las Animas County, the western 2/3rds of Huerfano County, eastern Custer County, extreme southwestern Pueblo County and south central portions of Fremont County.

Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions are now indicated across Mineral County, Rio Grande County and the rest of Conejos County, as well as, eastern portions of Saguache County, Alamosa County and extreme southwestern portions of Costilla County. Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions are also depicted across extreme southeastern Chaffee County and the rest of Fremont and Custer Counties, as well as, Teller County, most of El Paso County, and the rest of Pueblo County. Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions are also indicated Crowley County, western Kiowa County, extreme northwestern portions of Bent County, extreme eastern Otero and Huerfano Counties, as well as central into eastern portions of Las Animas County.

Drought free conditions are now indicated across western portions of Saguache County, most of Chaffee County, Lake County and extreme northern portions of El Paso County. Drought free conditions are also depicted across the rest of Kiowa, Bent, Otero and Las Animas Counties, as well as Prowers and Baca Counties.

FIRE DANGER

Fall and Winter precipitation has helped to ease fire danger across much of South Central and Southeast Colorado. However, with cured fuels and more windy weather associated with the early Winter Season, fire danger across non snow covered areas could be moderate to high at times into the early Spring.

AGRICULTURAL

At or above normal precipitation over the last 6 months across most of South Central and Southeast Colorado has helped to improve soil moisture, especially across southeastern portions of the state, where latest Vic Soil Moisture data indicating surplus soil moisture at this time. Winter precipitation has also helped to improve conditions across South Central Colorado; however, some long term dryness continues to be indicated.

HYDROLOGIC

Latest NRCS data indicates statewide precipitation for the month of February came in at 138 percent of average, which got a boost from abundant and widespread precipitation across southwestern portions of the Colorado, where some basins indicated over 200 percent of average precipitation for the month. For the 2019 Water Year thus far, statewide precipitation is at 110 percent of average overall.

In the Arkansas Basin, February precipitation was 124 percent of average, which brings water year to date precipitation to 110 percent of average overall.

In the Rio Grande Basin, February precipitation was 175 percent of average, which brings water year to date precipitation to 109 percent of average overall.

NRCS data indicated statewide snowpack on March 1st came in at 112 percent of average overall, compared to only 73 percent of average snowpack available at this same time last year. In stark contrast to last year, the northern and southern basins across the state are at or above normal levels.

In the Arkansas Basin, March 1st snowpack came in at 128 percent of average overall, compared to only 64 percent of average snowpack available at this same time last year. Again, in stark contrast to last year, the northern and southern portions of the Arkansas Basin are at or above normal levels.

In the Rio Grande Basin, March 1st snowpack came in at 115 percent of average overall, compared to only 59 percent of the available snowpack at this same time last year.

NRCS data indicated statewide water storage came in at 83 percent of average overall at the end of February, as compared to 115 percent of average storage available statewide at this same time last year.

In the Arkansas Basin, water storage at the end of February came in at 87 percent of average overall, as compared to 134 percent of average storage available at this same time last year.