Drought Continues to Impact S.E. Colorado

The National Weather Service reported that as of June 28, the drought monitor continues to indicate exceptional drought (D-4) conditions across southern Baca County.

Extreme drought (D-3) conditions have expanded to include Crowley and Otero Counties, western Kiowa County, most of Bent County, south and southwestern portions of Prowers County and the remainder of Baca County.

Severe drought (D-2) conditions are indicated across extreme northeastern Bent County and the rest of Prowers and Kiowa Counties.  Moderate conditions (D-1) are reflected across extreme northern portions of Kiowa County.

The latest USDA Colorado crop report rates 37% of top soil moisture across the state as short or very short, compared to 26% last week and 22% at the same time last year.  Subsoil moisture across Colorado is also reported to be dry, with 47% rated at short or very short, compared to 39% last week and only 17% at this time last year.

CPC soil moisture calculations continue to indicate the very dry conditions as well, with all of southeast Colorado showing deficiencies of 60 to 120 millimeters (2-5 inches).   The report also states that pasture and range feed conditions were rated at mostly poor to good conditions across the state due to the dry and windy conditions in the southern regions of Colorado.  Some feed shortages were reported in the southeastern corner of the state due to the dry conditions.

Precipitation totals in inches for southeast Colorado, comparing June 2010 to 2011:

                                              2011                       2010

Eads                                       1.56                        1.63

Haswell                                 0.69                        0.92

Holly                                      2.62                        N/A

J. Martin Dam                      2.83                        0.45

La Junta                                1.68                        1.12

Lamar                                    3.40                        0.54

Las Animas                           2.45                        1.19

Walsh                                   1.28                        2.00

Precipitation totals in inches and departure from normal for the period of June 28, 2010 to June 28, 2011:

                                              Average               Departure from Normal

Eads                                       10.22                      -5.21

Haswell                                 10.88                      -3.84

Lamar                                       9.35                      -6.47

Campo 7S                               10.99                     -6.22

Walsh 1W                              14.07                     -3.88

J. Martin Dam                          9.85                      -3.62

Las Animas                              9.86                      -3.13

La Junta 20S                             9.34                      -5.52

Kim 15 NNE                            13.85                     -1.99

Fowler 1SE                                8.96                      -2.33