Drought — Central Colorado River Basin, Colorado

2025-07-01 to 2025-07-31 · Central Colorado River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

The US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought in Colorado Zone 008 - Central Colorado River Basin. Due to the continued dry and hot month of July, the area of Extreme (D3) Drought was significantly expanded with the July 16th Drought Monitor update. A number of small wildfires, along with the Cottonwood Flat wildfire, grew to a couple hundred acres. These fires used drought-cured fuels to expand. No reports of crop damage or other drought related impacts, were received.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1284555. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.