Drought Information Statement for South Central and Southeast Colorado Valid June 18th, 2026 Issued By: National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado Contact Information: nws.pueblo@noaa.gov This product will be updated by July 17th, 2026 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 deepen across south central and southeast Colorado U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): Lake, northern Chaffee, eastern Costilla, western Huerfano and western Las Animas, counties. D3 Extreme Drought: Most of the rest of Chaffee, Saguache, most of Mineral, Rio Grande, western Conejos, Alamosa, eastern Costilla, most of the rest of Huerfano, western and southeast Las Animas, southeastern Crowley, northern Otero, northwestern Bent, western Kiowa, and most of Baca, counties. D2 Severe Drought: Southeast Chaffee, southwest Mineral, eastern Conejos, western Costilla, western Fremont, western Custer, northeastern Huerfano, southwest into northeast Pueblo, most of the rest of Las Animas, southeast El Paso, the rest of Crowley, central and northern Otero, most of the rest of Bent, Prowers, central into eastern Kiowa, and northern and eastern Baca, counties. D1 Moderate Drought: Eastern Fremont, Teller, the rest of El Paso, Pueblo and Custer, southeast Otero, southwest Bent, extreme north central Las Animas, and northeast Kiowa, counties. D0: Abnormally Dry: N/A Recent Change in Drought Intensity 4 Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: The Pikes Peak region, northern portions of the southeast Plains, the Upper Arkansas River Valley and the San Luis Valley. No Change: Portions of south central and southeast Colorado Drought Improved: Southern portions of the southeast Plains. Month to Date Temperature and Precipitation Departure June, thus far, has been warm, with showers and thunderstorms bringing some spotty, beneficial moisture to areas over and near the southern mountains and portions of the far southeast plains. Past 3 Month Temperature and Precipitation Departure March started out unsettled, especially for areas over and near the higher terrain. However, a strong upper level high pressure system moved into the region for the middle to end of March, bringing record shattering heat which quickly depleted the already record low snowpack across the state. April started out stormy across the higher terrain, with a few other passing storm systems bringing some precipitation to the higher terrain through the middle and end of the month. May started out cool and wet, with a passing system bringing well below seasonal temperatures. along with showers across the plains and higher terrain snowfall in the May 5th-6th timeframe. Ridging into the middle of the month brought warm and dry conditions. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts Statewide snowpack was at 14 percent of median as of June 1st, 2026, which is the 3rd lowest on record, surpassed only by 2002 and 2012, both of which had a higher seasonal SWE in mid March, but also experienced rapid runoff in early April and May. 91 percent of SNOTEL stations across the state where fully melted out as of June 1st, as compared to the typical 56 percent for this time of year. Low snowpack and early runoff has streamflow forecasts well below normal levels. Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture remains below seasonal levels across south central and southeast Colorado. Fire Hazard Impacts Warm and dry conditions has led to increased fire danger across SC and SE CO. The earlier snowmelt runoff and dry fuels will also bring an increased potential for significant wildfires across CO through the Summer. Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation and water restriction information. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Latest stream flows are below to well below seasonal norms across south central and southeast Colorado. NRCS data indicates statewide mountain precipitation for the month of May was 94 percent of median, as compared to 96 percent of median at this time last year. This brings statewide WY 2026 precipitation to 77 percent of median, as compared to 86 percent of median at this time last year. In the Arkansas basin, May precipitation was 101 percent of median, as compared to 151 percent of median at this time last year. This brings Arkansas basin WY 2026 precipitation to 68 percent of median, as compared to 89 percent of median at this time last year. In the Upper Rio Grande basin, May precipitation was 94 percent of median, as compared to 147 percent of median at this time last year. This brings Upper Rio Grande basin WY 2026 precipitation to 76 percent of median, as compared to 79 percent of median at this time last year. Hydrologic Conditions Colorado Snowpack On June 1st, NRCS data indicated Colorado Statewide Snowpack was at 14 percent of the 30 year median, as compared to 53 percent of median at this time last year. June 1st snowpack in the Arkansas basin was at 18 percent of median, as compared to 93 percent of median at this time last year. June 1st snowpack in the Upper Rio Grande basin was generally melted out. June 1st 2026 Runoff Forecasts Arkansas River Basin June 1st runoff forecasts remain Well Below Normal. Conditions degrade further southward for streams draining from the east slope of the Sangre de Cristos June 1st 2026 Runoff Forecasts Rio Grande Basin June 1st runoff forecasts remain well below normal. Extremely below normal outlook remains for most streams draining from the west slope of the Sangre de Cristos Agricultural and Water Supply Impacts The latest CPC data indicates soil moisture is running below seasonal norms across south central and southeast Colorado NRCS data indicated statewide Colorado Reservoir Storage was at 75 percent of median at the end of May, as compared to 85 percent of median at this time last year. In the Arkansas basin, reservoir storage was at 91 percent of median at the end of May, as compared to 107 percent of median at this time last year. In the Rio Grande basin, reservoir storage was at 82 percent of median at the end of May, as compared to 104 percent of median at this time last year. Fire Hazard Impacts With warmer and drier than normal conditions predicted across southeast Colorado into the summer, the potential for significant wildland fires will continue to increase across south central and southeast Colorado. Hopes for a robust monsoon may bring some relief to the fire danger into the end of summer. {{OUTLOOK_8_14_DAY}} After a slight uptick in daily showers and thunderstorms across eastern Colorado this weekend into early next week, the CPC 8 to 14 day outlook, valid June 24th-30th, indicates better chances of temperatures at and above normal, along with near to below normal precipitation across south central and southeast Colorado, with a drier westerly flow pattern expected through the end of June. Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Outlook The CPC outlook for (July, August and September) supports warmer conditions with a nod to near to above normal precipitation across most of south central and southeast Colorado, with the expectation of El Nino conditions and a more robust summer monsoon. Drought Outlook The potential for a robust monsoon season across the Rockies has led to the expectation of some improve in the drought across south central into portions of southeast Colorado through the middle to the end of the summer.