Drought in Lower Yampa River Basin, Colorado

The Drought Monitor analysis at the end of July included a patch of Extreme (D3) Drought conditions in Colorado Zone 001, Lower Yampa River Basin. This was in northwest Colorado, near the areas of northeast Utah where Extreme (D3) Drought had also developed by the time of this update. The continued hot and dry conditions, especially over the lower elevations, likely contributed to this expansion. No reports of crop damages or failures, or other drought related impacts, were received.

As the month of July continued to be hot and dry, drought worsened across the region, and Extreme (D3) Drought conditions expanded into new areas at the end of the month. This mainly included portions of northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah.