Drought Information Statement for Western CO & Eastern UT Valid July 3rd, 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 conditions extended across west & northwest Colorado D2 expansions over Moffat County in northwest Colorado & Uintah County in northeast Utah U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent: D3 (Extreme Drought): Expansion across portions of the Upper Yampa and White River Basins D2 (Severe Drought): Expansion across northeast UT and northwest CO D1 (Moderate Drought): Persists across the west, aside from the sliver of D0 in Eagle County D0: (Abnormally Dry): Filling in east Eagle county Recent Change in Drought Intensity One Week Drought Monitor Class Change: Drought Worsened: One class degradation in portions of northwest Colorado Drought Improved: NA Precipitation Lack of precipitation across northwest CO and northeast UT support the expansion of D2 and D3 conditions. Monsoon moisture has favored terrain south of the CWA, leaving much of the region below normal conditions. Temperature Abnormally warm temperatures have encompassed the west over the last 30 days, with a dry and warm swath focused over northeast UT and northwest CO. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Portions of the Yampa and Green River Basins have dropped well below normal, due to the warm and dry conditions. In general, watersheds across the Upper Colorado River Basin have been running below normal over the last week of June. Fire Hazard Impacts Significant wildfire potential outlooks show above normal fire potential has nosed into northwest Colorado through the month of July. Regions with the potential for above normal fire activity in succeeding months shifts to the northwest, with normal conditions expected over Utah and Colorado by August. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast The 7-Day precipitation forecast falls below normal aside from localized areas in the San Juan Mountains and higher terrain along the Flat Tops and Elk Range (most of which is forecast for today, June 3rd) Placement of high pressure focused over the Great Basin over next week is not ideal for eastern UT and western CO to receive monsoon moisture. The main plume is typically deflected to the east under this regime. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage CPC favors above normal precipitation for areas south and southwest of the CWA for July. This would suggest equal chances for above or below normal monsoon activity over the month of July Higher confidence in above normal temperatures favors the northern half of the region, with less certainty generally south of the I-70 corridor Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Anticipate drought conditions to persist through the month of July and into Fall 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 Stage 1 fire restrictions have been implemented for much of northwest Colorado and Utah Other Impacts Colorado fisheries closed to fishing along the Yampa River below Stagecoach Dam due to low flow and prevent overfishing Mitigation Actions Pitkin County has declared a voluntary stage one water shortage in response to escalating drought conditions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information.