Drought in Central Colorado River Basin, Colorado

At the beginning of the month of October, the US Drought Monitor indicated that 100% of Colorado Zone 008 - Central Colorado River Basin was under Extreme (D3) Drought. With the 10/14 Drought Monitor update, significant improvement was noted. The coverage of Extreme (D3) Drought was reduced to 20% of the zone, and Severe (D2) Drought was introduced, covering the remaining 80% of the zone. No substantial changes were noted from this point through the end of the month.

A dry end to September and a dry start to October kept drought conditions consistent across much of eastern Utah and western Colorado at the start of the month. However, the arrival of deep tropical moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storms Priscilla and Raymond helped to substantially improve drought conditions, especially across southwest Colorado. In this region, drought was completely eradicated. Only portions of northeast Utah and northwest Colorado, where the deep tropical moisture did not reach, saw drought conditions persist more or less unchanged.