Southeast Colorado Drought Status – Portions Now at D4 Designation

Lack of significant precipitation for southeast Colorado has brought the current drought situation to a D4, (Exceptional) status for extreme southeast Baca County as of Sunday, May 22. The National Weather Service rates D4 conditions as follows: “Exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; exceptional fire risk; shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells, creating water emergencies.”

Extreme drought conditions (D3) still exist in extreme southeastern Kiowa and Crowley counties, most of Bent County, western Prowers, the remaining sections of Baca county and eastern Otero and Crowley counties.

The latest USDA Colorado crop report rates 39% of top soil moisture across the state as short or very short, compared to 61% short or very short the week before, and 10% from 2010. Statewide subsoil moisture is reported as dry with 53% rated at short or very short, compared to 62% last week and 7% this time last year. CPC soil moisture calculations continue top indicate the dry conditions as well with much of south central and all of southeast Colorado showing deficiencies of 60 to 80 millimeters (2-3 inches). The Colorado Crop Report also states that pasture and range feed conditions were rated at mostly fair across the state due to the drier conditions in the southeast.

Southeast Colorado Precipitation levels from the National Weather Service in Pueblo are listed in inches for the past 365 days, back to May 2010: