Drought in Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide, Colorado

The US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought in Colorado Zone 017 - Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide. This area saw some modest improvement with the July 9th Drought Monitor update, coinciding with a bit of improved moisture over the zone. Otherwise, conditions remained largely unchanged through the month. Several wildfires ranging from a few hundred acres to several thousand acres began during this month, fueled by drought dried fuels 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.