Colorado's statewide drought "pretty dire." It'll take more than a season's snowfall to get out of

Colorado’s statewide drought “pretty dire.” It’ll take more than a season’s snowfall to get out of it.


It may be a new year, but Colorado’s statewide drought will be baggage it carries well into 2021.

More than a quarter of the state is in the worst level of drought, and with snowpack significantly below what’s expected this time of year — especially on the Western Slope — scientists are warning that it will take more than just a big snowstorm to alleviate this dry spell.

Colorado has been in drought to varying degrees since August, and this week is no different. Thursday’s U.S. Drought Monitor report found that all of Colorado is in at least “moderate” drought — the second lowest drought category — with 27.6% classified in the most intense category of “exceptional.” The past five weeks of reports have maintained that 27.6% figure; there hasn’t been less than a quarter of the state in “exceptional” drought since eight weeks ago.

The last time Colorado saw drought this widespread was in 2002. On one hand, it’s good that the state’s drought status isn’t getting worse; on the other hand, it’s also not improving, and likely won’t anytime soon.

Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2021/01/08/colorado-drought-dire-continue-regardless-winter-snow/