Drought Information Statement for Western CO & Eastern UT Valid May 27, 2025 Issued By: WFO Grand Junction, CO Contact Information: This product will be updated if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/gjt/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates. D3 expanded across west-central Colorado D0 reintroduced across northwest Colorado and northeast Utah where conditions are quickly worsening due to an abnormally dry Spring U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent: D3 (Extreme Drought): Expansion across west-central CO D2 (Severe Drought): Persists across much of east/southeast Utah and west to southwest Colorado and extending along the Colorado River mainstem D1 (Moderate Drought): Expanding across portions of northeast UT and northwest CO D0: (Abnormally Dry): Filled in any remaining drought free areas in eastern UT and western CO Recent Change in Drought Intensity One Week Drought Monitor Class Change: Drought Worsened: One class degradation along the Colorado River mainstem, portions of the Gunnison and San Juan River Basins Drought Improved: NA Precipitation Below normal precipitation has been observed across all of eastern Utah and western Colorado Temperature Overall, abnormally warm across eastern UT and western CO with the more notable anomalies across northeast UT and northwest CO Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Several rivers and streams within the Upper and Lower Green River basins and the Yampa River Basin have already seen their seasonal peak Remaining peak forecasts have dropped to ~50 to 70% of Average across the region Streamflow has continued to run below normal for most of the Upper Colorado River Basin Seven Day Precipitation Forecast 7-Day precipitation forecasts are anomalously dry Despite a ridge of high pressure building overhead, lingering moisture will trigger daily showers across high terrain through the end of the week Near-stationary pattern should give way early next week, returning the potential for widespread precipitation Long-Range Outlooks Recent updates from CPC showed a shift of “Above Normal” precipitation probabilities westward Leaving the CWA under “equal chances” to up to 40% chance of “Below Normal” With high pressure (warm bubble) centered over the Great Basin, western CO and eastern UT do not typically fall under the main Monsoon plume of moisture Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Anticipate drought conditions to persist through the month of May and into summer Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts Gov. Spencer Cox (Utah) issued an Executive Order declaring a state of emergency due to drought conditions combined with low streamflow forecasts and increased water demands with warmer temperatures for San Juan, Grand and Uintah counties Agricultural Impacts Reduced water supply in southwest Colorado (estimated users to expect to receive 30-35% of their full allotment due to low snowpack) Fire Hazard Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Other Impacts Colorado fisheries closed to fishing along the Yampa River below Stagecoach Dam due to low flow and prevent overfishing Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information.