Drought Information Statement for South Central and Southeast Colorado Valid February 8th, 2025 Issued By: NWS Pueblo, Colorado Contact Information: nws.pueblo@noaa.gov This product will be updated by March 15th, 2025 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/pub/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates. Moderate to Severe Drought Conditions developing across the Southwest Mountains U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): N/A D3 Extreme Drought: N/A D2 Severe Drought: Southeastern Mineral county, southwestern Rio Grande county and western Conejos county. D1 Moderate Drought: Most of Mineral county, southwestern Rio Grande county into central Conejos county. D0: Abnormally Dry: Extreme northern Mineral county, southwestern Saguache county, eastern Rio Grande county, eastern Conejos county, eastern Costilla county, southwestern Huerfano county, western Las Animas county, and extreme southeastern Las Animas county into southwestern Baca county. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: Portions of the southwest mountains into western portions of the San Luis Valley. No Change: Most of south central and southeast Colorado. Drought Improved: NA. Month to Date Temperature and Precipitation Departures February of 2025 has started off very warm and dry thus far. This will give way to cooler temperatures and increased chances of precipitation this weekend into early next week. 3 Month Precipitation and Temperature Summary November of 2024 was cool and wet across south central and southeast Colorado. December of 2024 was very warm and generally dry across south central and southeast Colorado. January was very cold and generally wet, across eastern Colorado, with warmer and drier conditions across portions of south central Colorado. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts February 1st Statewide snowpack is 90 percent of median, with the southern basins lagging behind the northern basins. Streamflow conditions are near to slightly below normal across south central and southeast Colorado. Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture is at to slightly above seasonal levels across south central and southeast Colorado. Fire Hazard Impacts Seasonally dry fuels across snow free areas has produced moderate to at times high fire danger across southeast Colorado. Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Latest 7 day average stream flows are near normal across south central and southeast Colorado. NRCS data indicates statewide mountain precipitation for the month of January was at 77 percent of median, as compared to 127 percent of median at this time last year. This brings statewide Water Year 2025 to date precipitation to 91 percent of median, as compared to 86 percent of median at this time last year. In the Arkansas basin, January precipitation came in at 90 percent of median, as compared to 143 percent of median at this time last year. This brings Arkansas basin Water Year 2025 to date precipitation to 107 percent of median, as compared to 90 percent of median at this time last year, In the Upper Rio Grande basin, January precipitation came in at 63 percent of median, as compared to 118 percent of median at this time last year. This brings Upper Rio Grande basin Water Year 2025 to date precipitation to 87 percent of median, as compared to 71 percent of median at this time last year. Hydrologic Conditions Colorado Snowpack At the end of January, NRCS data indicated Colorado Statewide Snowpack was at 90 percent of median, as compared to 87 percent of median at this time last year. February 1st snowpack in the Arkansas basin snowpack was at 96 percent of median, as compared to 84 percent of median at this time last year. Early streamflow forecasts range from 62% of median at Grape Creek near Westcliffe to 111% of median at the Arkansas River above Pueblo. February 1st snowpack in the Upper Rio Grande basin was at 71 percent of median, as compared to 65 percent of median at this time last year. Early streamflow forecasts range from 31% of median at San Antonio River near Ortiz to 111% of median at Saguache Creek near Saguache. Agricultural and Water Storage Impacts Latest CPC data indicates soil moisture is running at to slightly above seasonal norms across south central and southeast Colorado. NRCS data indicated statewide Colorado Reservoir Storage was at 94 percent of median at the end of January, as compared to 100 percent of median at this time last year. In the Arkansas basin, reservoir storage was at 114 percent of median at the end of January, as compared to 113 percent of median at this time last year. In the Rio Grande basin, reservoir storage was at 122 percent of median at the end of January, as compared to 119 percent of median at this time last year. Fire Hazard Impacts Seasonally dry fuels across snow free areas has produced moderate to at times high fire danger across southeast Colorado. Long-Range Three Month Outlook (February-April) The CPC outlook for February through April gives equal chances of above, below and near normal temperatures, save for a slight lean to above normal temperatures across the southern tier. The precipitation outlook leans to below normal conditions across south central and southeast Colorado. Drought Three Month Outlook Drought conditions look to persist and expand across portions of south central Colorado into the Spring.