After one of the hottest and driest summers on record, western Colorado is finally getting some relief.
In mid-August, nearly seven percent of the state hit ‘exceptional drought’ status — the worst ranking on the national drought monitor — stretching across counties from Moffat and Routt down through Gunnison and Mesa.
But persistent rains in recent weeks have chipped away at those extreme conditions.
Colorado State Climatologist Russ Schumacher told the state’s Water Conditions Monitoring Committee that while the worst drought has eased, severe to extreme drought lingers across much of the Western Slope and the Four Corners.
He added that the recent storms have brought a mixed bag — helping with drought, but also triggering flash floods and debris flows on burn scars.
Looking ahead, forecasters say La Niña is expected to make a brief appearance this fall, but after that, winter outlooks are especially unpredictable.
