Drought Information Statement for South Central and Southeast Colorado Valid March 17th, 2025 Issued By: NWS Pueblo, Colorado Contact Information: nws.pueblo@noaa.gov This product will be updated by April 10th, 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 Extreme Drought Conditions are present across the Southwest Mountains Moderate Drought Conditions are developing across south central and southeast Colorado U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): N/A D3 Extreme Drought: Extreme south central Rio Grande county into western and central Conejos county. D2 Severe Drought: Southern Mineral county, southwestern Rio Grande county and western Conejos county. D1 Moderate Drought: Northern Mineral, extreme southwestern Saguache, central Rio Grande, eastern Conejos. central Chaffee, western Fremont, western Custer, northern Huerfano, eastern Baca and Prowers counties. D0: Abnormally Dry: Extreme northern Mineral, southwestern Saguache, eastern Rio Grande , western Alamosa, eastern Conejos, eastern Costilla, central Chaffee, western Fremont, Custer, western Huerfano county, eastern Costilla, extreme western Las Animas, western Baca, eastern Bent, western Prowers and central and eastern Kiowa counties. Valid March 11th, 2025 Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: Portions of the southwest mountains, the San Luis Valley, southeast mtns and far southeast Plains. No Change: Most of south central and southeast Colorado. Drought Improved: SE Las Animas County. Month to Date Temperature and Precipitation Departures March of 2025 has been generally warm and dry thus far, with passing weather systems bringing windy conditions and precipitation favoring the southern Tier. 3 Month Precipitation and Temperature Summary December of 2024 was very warm and generally dry across south central and southeast Colorado. January of 2025 was very cold and generally wet, across eastern Colorado, with warmer and drier conditions across portions of south central Colorado. February of 2025 was cool and wet across south central and southeast Colorado. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts March 1st Statewide snowpack was at 91 percent of median, with the southern basins lagging well behind the northern basins. This is reflective in the latest April-July and April-September streamflow forecasts. Current streamflow conditions are near 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 Dry fuels across snow free areas, combined with windy conditions has produced moderate to at times extreme high fire danger across south central and 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 February was at 97 percent of median, as compared to 131 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 95 percent of median at this time last year. In the Arkansas basin, February precipitation came in at 66 percent of median, as compared to 142 percent of median at this time last year. The southern portions of the basin were much drier than northern portions. This brings Arkansas basin Water Year 2025 to date precipitation to 98 percent of median, as compared to 101 percent of median at this time last year. In the Upper Rio Grande basin, February precipitation came in at 50 percent of median, as compared to 142 percent of median at this time last year. This brings Upper Rio Grande basin Water Year 2025 to date precipitation to 74 percent of median, as compared to 81 percent of median at this time last year. Hydrologic Conditions Colorado Snowpack At the end of February, NRCS data indicated Colorado Statewide Snowpack was at 91 percent of median, as compared to 97 percent of median at this time last year. The southern basins are currently lagging behind the northern basins. March 1st snowpack in the Arkansas basin snowpack was at 79 percent of median, as compared to 94 percent of median at this time last year. Current streamflow forecasts range from 48% of median at Huerfano River near Redwing to 105% of median at Chalk Creek near Nathrop. March 1st snowpack in the Upper Rio Grande basin was at 62 percent of median, as compared to 84 percent of median at this time last year. Current streamflow forecasts range from 29% of median at San Antonio River near Ortiz to 89% of median at Rio Grande at Wagon Wheel Gap. 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 February, as compared to 100 percent of median at this time last year. In the Arkansas basin, reservoir storage was at 113 percent of median at the end of February, as compared to 112 percent of median at this time last year. In the Rio Grande basin, reservoir storage was at 121 percent of median at the end of February, as compared to 119 percent of median at this time last year. Fire Hazard Impacts Dry fuels across snow free areas, combined with windy conditions has produced moderate to at times extreme high fire danger across south central and southeast Colorado. Long-Range Three Month Outlook (March-May) The CPC outlook for March through May gives equal chances of above, below and near normal temperatures, save for a slight lean to above normal temperatures across the southwest Colorado. 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 south central and southeast Colorado through the Spring.