Drought Information Statement for South Central and Southeast Colorado Valid April, 15, 2024 Issued By: NWS Pueblo, Colorado This product will be updated May 10th, 2023 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. -Drought conditions continue to improve across south central Colorado -Some drying noted across the far southeast Plains U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): N/A D3 Extreme Drought: N/A D2 Severe Drought: N/A D1 Moderate Drought: Now confined to extreme southern portions of Conejos and Costilla counties into extreme western Las Animas county. D0: Abnormally Dry: Saguache, Mineral, Rio Grande and Alamosa counties and the rest of Conejos and Costilla counties. Extreme western portions of Fremont, Custer and Huerfano counties into western Las Animas county. Portions of the southeast plains including portions of Kiowa, Bent, Prowers and Baca counties. Valid Tuesday April 9th, 2024 Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: Portions of the far southeast Plains. No Change: Most of south central Colorado. Drought Improved: Portions of the higher terrain along the Continental Divide, the San Luis Valley and southeast Mountains. Precipitation March of 2024 continued the previous month of February’s progressive weather pattern across the region, with periods of mild and dry weather along with occasional colder and unsettled weather with passing weather systems. One passing system through the middle of the month brought widespread rain and snow to much of south central and southeast Colorado, with both Colorado Springs and Pueblo setting daily precipitation records. For the month of March as a whole, at or above normal temperatures and at and above normal precipitation were experienced over and near the higher terrain, with above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation being realized across the far southeast Plains. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts March was a wet month with several significant storms delivering above normal precipitation to all major basins across the state, boosting snowpack and streamflow forecasts for the upcoming snowmelt-runoff season. Agricultural Impacts Beneficial moisture has improved soil moisture across the region. Fire Hazard Impacts Despite the beneficial moisture, cured fuels and occasional bouts of strong winds, has allowed for bouts of critical fire weather conditions across snow free areas of south central and southeast Colorado over the past few months. Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Current 7 day average stream flows are at or above normal across most of south central and southeast Colorado. NRCS data indicated statewide mountain precipitation for the month of March was at 156 percent of median, as compared to 182 percent of median at this time last year. Water Year to date precipitation is now up to 103 percent of median, as compared to 124 percent at this time last year. In the Arkansas basin, March precipitation came in at 186 percent of median, as compared to 145 percent of median at this time last year. Water Year to date precipitation is now up to 115 percent of median, as compared to 100 percent of median at this time last year. In the Upper Rio Grande basin, March precipitation came in at 174 percent of median, as compared to 199 percent of median at this time last year. Water Year to date precipitation is now up to 98 percent of median, as compared to 117 percent of median at this time last year. Hydrologic Conditions Colorado Snowpack As of April 1st, NRCS data indicated Colorado Statewide Snowpack was 112 percent of median. In the Arkansas basin, April 1st snowpack was at 117 percent of median. April 1st NRCS streamflow forecasts ranged from 72% of median at Huerfano River near Redwing to 120% of median at Chalk Creek near Nathrop. In the Upper Rio Grande basin, April 1st snowpack was at 110 percent of median. April 1st NRCS streamflow forecasts ranged from 67% of median at Costilla Creek near Costilla to 146% of median at Saguache Creek near Saguache. Agricultural and Water Storage Impacts CPC data indicates soil moisture around seasonal norms across south central and southeast Colorado. NRCS data indicated statewide Colorado Reservoir Storage was at 99 percent of median at the end of March, as compared to 80 percent of median at this time last year. In the Arkansas basin, reservoir storage was at 110 percent of median at the end of March, as compared to 90 percent of median at this time last year. In the Rio Grande basin, reservoir storage was at 116 percent of median at the end of March, as compared to 105 percent of median at this time last year. Fire Hazard Impacts Occasionally windy conditions in March, along with cured fuels, brought bouts of increased fire danger across the snow free areas of south central and southeast Colorado. Long-Range Outlooks The CPC Temperature and Precipitation Outlook for the rest of April, May and June leans to above normal temperatures and equal chances of above, below and near normal precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado. Drought Outlook Drought conditions are predicted to persist across portions of south central Colorado for the rest April through June.