Drought in Elkhead and Park Mountains, Colorado

The US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought in Colorado Zone 004-Elkhead and Park Mountains through the month of July. As the month continued hot and dry, there was an expansion of Extreme (D3) Drought coverage beginning with the July 16th Drought Monitor update. No reports of crop damage or failures, or other drought related impacts, were received.

The month saw above normal temperatures and generally below normal precipitation across eastern Utah and western Colorado. What little moisture did manage to move into the region favored the higher terrain, allowing drought conditions across the lower elevations to worsen through the month. A brief period of moisture at the beginning of the month contributed to brief drought improvements for certain areas, but the overall hot and dry month led to expansion of drought conditions.