Drought — West Elk and Sawatch Mountains, Colorado

2025-08-01 to 2025-08-31 · West Elk and Sawatch Mountains, Colorado

Event narrative

At the beginning of the month of August, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought conditions as covering roughly 75% of Colorado Zone 012 - West Elk and Sawatch Mountains. With the 8/13/25 US Drought Monitor update, the extent of the drought remained unchanged but roughly 10% of the Extreme (D3) Drought area was worsened to Exceptional (D4) Drought. With the 8/20/25 US Drought Monitor update, the area of Extreme (D3) Drought was expanded to cover the entire zone, still with roughly 10% of the zone under Exceptional (D4) Drought conditions. These conditions remained unchanged from the 8/20/25 update through the end of the month.

Wider weather episode

The month of August continued where July left off, with overall above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. In particular, the lower elevations of eastern Utah and western Colorado showed the greatest departures in both temperatures and precipitation. As a result, Extreme (D3) Drought either remained unchanged in coverage, or expanded through the month.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1291240. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.