Drought in Southwestern San Juan Mountains, Colorado

A sliver of Extreme (D3) drought conditions appeared in far eastern Archuleta County, along the southern San Juan Mountains. This amounted to less than 0.5% of the entire CWA. This area of D3 remained unchanged through the month, with Moderate (D1) and Severe (D2) conditions filling in the remainder of the zone.

An unusually dry winter and underperforming snowpack combined with a lack of precipitation across the lower elevations during the spring months to reintroduce drought to Western Colorado. By late April, the first widespread drought conditions of Extreme (D3) or greater category appeared.