S.E. Colorado is Dryer, But Still Rated Drought Free

A Drought Information Statement from the National Weather Service indicates that as of September 12, 2015, despite some drying conditions, south central and southeast Colorado remains drought free.

August was a generally warm and dry month across most of that region, save for some areas of precipitation across the southeast plains. The warmer and mainly dryer conditions allowed for some soil and vegetation to dry out which has also led to increased fire danger for the past several months. However, the area for the 2015 Water Year, (October 1^st, 2014 through September 30^th, 2015) in the latest report, continues to depict drought free conditions across southeast and south central Colorado.

Warm late summer temperatures and more sporadic convective precipitation across the area has raised concerns of moisture stress as soil moisture supplies declined for the third consecutive week, according to the latest USDA Colorado Crop Report. The dry weather has helped push crop maturity and has allowed for harvest activities to proceed without delay.

The USDA Colorado Crop Report indicated 34% of top soil moisture conditions across the state were rated at short or very short with 66% of top soil conditions rated at adequate or better. This compares to 30% of top soil moisture rated at short or very short last week and to 41% at this same time last year.

Subsoil moisture conditions indicated similar results with 34% being rated at short or very short and 66% being rated at adequate or better. This compares to 31% of subsoil moisture conditions rated at short or very short last week and to 49% at this same time last year.

Statewide reservoir storage levels at the end of August came in at 116% of average overall. This is down slightly from the 119% of average from last month, but remains above the 100% of storage recorded at this same time last year.

In the Arkansas Basin, storage levels at the end of August were at 145% of average overall. This is down from the 156% of average overall reported last month, but remains well above the 74% reported at this same time last year.

Three reporting cities indicated warmer than normal temperatures for August with Alamosa at 1.3 degrees above normal, Colorado Springs was 2.6 degrees above normal making it the 9^th warmest August on record and Pueblo was 4.2 degrees above normal making it the 5^th warmest August on record.