Drought Information Statement for South Central and Southeast Colorado Valid April 10th, 2025 Issued By: NWS Pueblo, Colorado Contact Information: nws.pueblo@noaa.gov This product will be updated by May 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 persist across the Southwest Mountains Moderate to Severe Drought Conditions continue to develop across south central and southeast Colorado U.S. Drought Monitor Valid April 8th, 2025 Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): N/A D3 Extreme Drought: SE Mineral, extreme southwestern Rio Grande, western and central Conejos counties. D2 Severe Drought: Southern Mineral, southwestern Rio Grande, central Conejos, extreme southeast Chaffee, western Fremont, western Custer and northwest Huerfano counties. D1 Moderate Drought: Northern Mineral, southwestern and central Saguache, eastern Rio Grande, eastern Conejos, most of Chaffee, central Fremont, Custer, northern Huerfano, western Las Animas, eastern Baca, eastern Prowers, southeast and southwest Kiowa, eastern Crowley, northeast Otero and northern Bent counties. D0: Abnormally Dry: Saguache, eastern Rio Grande , western Alamosa, eastern Conejos, eastern Costilla, eastern Fremont, western and central Pueblo, western Crowley, northern Otero, southeast Huerfano, western and southeast Las Animas, western Baca, southeast Bent, western Prowers, and southwest and southeast Kiowa counties. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: Areas over and near the higher terrain as well as portions of the southeast Plains. No Change: Portions of the San Luis Valley and southeast Plains. Drought Improved: Central Kiowa county. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts April 1st Statewide snowpack was at 85 percent of median, with the southern basins lagging well behind the northern basins. This is also reflective in the latest April-July and April-September streamflow forecasts. Current streamflow conditions are near normal across south central and southeast Colorado and below normal across southwest Colorado. Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture is around 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. Much lower than normal snowpack, and an expected early melt off, has brought an increased potential for significant wildfires across the Southwest Mtns for the month of June. 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, with below average conditions across southwest Colorado. NRCS data indicates statewide mountain precipitation for the month of March was at 104 percent of median, as compared to 156 percent of median at the same time last year. This brings statewide Water Year 2025 to date precipitation to 92 percent of median, as compared to 103 percent of median at the same time last year. In the Arkansas basin, March precipitation came in at 77 percent of median, as compared to 186 percent of median at the same 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 92 percent of median, as compared to 115 percent of median at the same time last year. In the Upper Rio Grande basin, March precipitation came in at 86 percent of median, as compared to 175 percent of median at the same time last year. This brings Upper Rio Grande basin Water Year 2025 to date precipitation to 79 percent of median, as compared to 93 percent of median at the same time last year. Hydrologic Conditions Colorado Snowpack At the end of March, NRCS data indicated Colorado Statewide Snowpack was at 85 percent of median, as compared to 112 percent of median at the same time last year. The southern basins are lagging well behind the northern basins. April 1st snowpack in the Arkansas basin was at 74 percent of median, as compared to 118 percent of median at the same time last year. Current streamflow forecasts range from 32% of median at Grape Creek near Westcliffe to 98% of median at the Arkansas River at Salida. April 1st snowpack in the Upper Rio Grande basin was at 56 percent of median, as compared to 109 percent of median at the same time last year. Current streamflow forecasts range from 21% of median at San Antonio River near Ortiz to 80% of median at Rio Grande at Thirty Mile Bridge. Agricultural and Water Storage Impacts Latest CPC data indicates soil moisture is running around seasonal norms across south central and southeast Colorado. NRCS data indicated statewide Colorado Reservoir Storage was at 92 percent of median at the end of March, as compared to 100 percent of median at the same time last year. In the Arkansas basin, reservoir storage was at 113 percent of median at the end of March, as compared to 110 percent of median at the same time last year. In the Rio Grande basin, reservoir storage was at 121 percent of median at the end of March, as compared to 116 percent of median at the same 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. Much lower than normal snowpack, and an expected early melt off, has brought an increased potential for significant wildfires across the Southwest Mtns for the month of June. Long-Range Three Month Outlook (April-June) The CPC outlook for April through June leans to above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation 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 rest of the Spring and into the early Summer.