Drought in Upper Gunnison River Valley, Colorado

At the beginning of the month of October, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought as covering roughly 30% of Colorado Zone 014 - Upper Gunnison River Valley. Severe (D2) Drought covered roughly 50% of the zone, and Moderate (D1) Drought covered the remaining 20%. With the 10/14 Drought Monitor update, significant improvements were noted. Extreme (D3) Drought was completely removed, and Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions were introduced. Severe (D2) Drought now covered 30% of the zone, Moderate (D1) Drought covered 50% of the zone, and the remaining 20% of the zone was under Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions. No substantial changes were noted between this point and 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.