S.E. Colorado Remaining Drought Free

July was a slightly cooler and wetter than normal month across much of south central and southeast Colorado, save for areas of above normal temperatures and below to well-below precipitation across the southeast Plains.

The warmer and drier than normal conditions across portions of eastern Colorado has allowed for soils to dry out and has led to increased fire danger over the past month. However, with above normal to well above normal precipitation across the area for the 2015 water year (October 1^st through September 30^th)…the latest US Drought Monitor, issued Thursday, August 13^th, continues to depict drought free conditions across all of south central and southeast Colorado.

Warmer and drier than normal conditions across portions of eastern Colorado has allowed for soils to dry out and has led to increased fire danger over the past month. With that said, a fast moving wildfire had to be contained recently across northern portions of the Front Range.

Hot summer temperatures and sporadic convective precipitation across the eastern plains has allowed for some deterioration of soil conditions across the area with the latest CPC and VOC Soil Moisture Calculations depicting this drying as well, especially across portions of the lower Arkansas Valley.

The latest USDA Colorado Crop Report indicated 26% of topsoil moisture conditions cross the state were rated at short or very short, with 74% of topsoil conditions rated at adequate or better. This compares to 44% of top soil moisture rated at short or very short at this same time last year. Subsoil moisture conditions indicated similar results with 26% being rated at short or very short and 74% being rated at adequate or better. This compares to 50% of subsoil moisture conditions rates at short or very short at this same time last year.

Despite summer time temperatures and areas of below normal precipitation, statewide reservoir storage levels at the end of July came in at 119% of average overall. This is up from the 1112% of average overall from lasts month and remains above the 101% of average overall storage recorded at this tame time last year. In the Arkansas Basin, storage levels at the end of July were at 156% of average overall. This is up from the 140% of average overall storage reported last month and remains well above the 79% of average storage reported at this same time last year.

The Climate Prediction Centers outlook across southeast Colorado over the next week indicates slightly better chances of near normal temperatures and precipitation across the area. The outlook for the rest of August through October continues to indicate a light tilt to below normal temperatures along with a better chance of above normal precipitation across south centeral and southeast Colorado.