Drought Information Statement for South Central and Southeast Colorado Valid June 13th, 2025 Issued By: NWS Pueblo, Colorado Contact Information: nws.pueblo@noaa.gov This product will be updated by July 11th, 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. Improvements in Drought Conditions across Southeast Colorado Moderate to Extreme Drought persists across the Central and Southwest Mountains U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): N/A D3 Extreme Drought: Southeast Mineral county, southwestern Rio Grande county, and western Conejos county. D2 Severe Drought: Western Saguache county, the rest Mineral county, western Rio Grande county, and central Conejos county. D1 Moderate Drought: Most of Lake and Chaffee counties, central Saguache county, central Rio Grande county, central Conejos county, southern Fremont county, western Custer county, western Huerfano county, eastern Costilla county and western Las Animas county. D0: Abnormally Dry: The rest of Saguache county, northeastern Lake county, southeast Chaffee county, central Fremont county, eastern Rio Grande county, eastern Conejos county, central Costilla, eastern Custer county, central Huerfano county and western Las Animas county. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change: Drought Worsened: Areas along and west of the Continental Divide. No Change: Portions of the south central Colorado. Drought Improved: Over and near the southeast Mountains and Plains. 3 Month Precipitation and Temperature Summary: March was generally warm and windy across south central and southeast Colorado. April was a roller coaster type of month, with cool and wet periods at the beginning and middle of the month, along with warm, dry and windy periods in between. May was another roller coaster type of month, with slow moving weather systems bringing cool and wet periods at the beginning, middle and end of the month, along with a few warm, dry and windy periods in between. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts June 1st Statewide snowpack was at 54 percent of median, with the southern basins lagging behind the northern basins. This is also reflective in the latest streamflow forecasts. Current streamflow conditions are generally at and above normal across south central and southeast Colorado. Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture is around seasonal levels across south central and southeast Colorado. Fire Hazard Impacts A wet May and early June has tempered fire danger, with current fuel status deemed non-critical across south central and southeast Colorado. Much lower than normal snowpack and an 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 generally at and above normal across south central and southeast Colorado. NRCS data indicates statewide mountain precipitation for the month of May was 96 percent of median, as compared to 107 percent of median at the same time last year. This brings statewide Water Year 2025 to date precipitation to 86 percent of median, as compared to 99 percent of median at the same time last year. In the Arkansas basin, May precipitation was 151 percent of median, as compared to 153 percent of median at the same time last year. This brings Arkansas basin Water Year 2025 to date precipitation to 89 percent of median, as compared to 105 percent of median at the same time last year. In the Upper Rio Grande basin, May precipitation was 103 percent of median, as compared to 124 percent of median at the same time last year. This brings Upper Rio Grande basin Water Year 2025 to date precipitation to 77 percent of median, as compared to 88 percent of median at the same time last year. Hydrologic Conditions Colorado Snowpack At the end of May, NRCS data indicated Colorado Statewide Snowpack was at 54 percent of median, as compared to 137 percent of median at the same time last year. The southern basins are lagging well behind the northern basins. June 1st snowpack in the Arkansas basin was at 93 percent of median, as compared to 168 percent of median at the same time last year. Current streamflow forecasts range from 36% of median at Grape Creek near Westcliffe to 93% of median at the Arkansas River at Salida. June 1st snowpack in the Upper Rio Grande basin was at 1 percent of median, as compared to 0 percent of median at the same time last year. Current streamflow forecasts range from 39% of median at Los Pinos River near Ortiz to 67% of median at Saguache Creek near Saguache. Agricultural and Water Storage Impacts Latest CPC data indicates soil moisture is running around seasonal norms across south central and southeast Colorado. Image Caption: CPC Daily Soil Moisture Ranking valid June 11h, 2025 NRCS data indicated statewide Colorado Reservoir Storage was at 89 percent of median at the end of May, as compared to 93 percent of median at the same time last year. In the Arkansas basin, reservoir storage was at 107 percent of median at the end of May, as compared to 100 percent of median at the same time last year. In the Rio Grande basin, reservoir storage was at 103 percent of median at the end of May, as compared to 105 percent of median at the same time last year. Long-Range Three Month Outlook (June-August) The CPC outlook for June through August leans to above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado, save for equal chances of above, below and near normal precipitation across southwest mtns. Drought Three Month Outlook Drought conditions look to persist and expand across southwest and south central Colorado through the Summer.