Drought — Grand Flat and Arches, Utah

2025-10-01 to 2025-10-31 · Grand Flat and Arches, Utah

Event narrative

At the beginning of the month of October, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought covering roughly 90% of Utah Zone -27 - Grand Flat and Arches, with the remaining 10% under Severe (D2) Drought conditions. With the 10/14 update, significant improvements were noted. Extreme (D3) Drought conditions were reduced to 5% coverage, with Severe (D2) Drought increased to 95% of the zone. The 10/21 update saw the introduction of Moderate (D1) Drought conditions. The coverage of Extreme (D3) Drought conditions remained unchanged, but Severe (D2) Drought was reduced to 30% of the zone, with Moderate (D1) Drought now covering roughly 65% of the zone. No significant changes were noted from this point through the end of the month.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1296846. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.