Drought in Upper Yampa River Basin, Colorado

While there were no instances of Extreme (D3) or Exceptional (D4) Drought to start the month of February, the US Drought Monitor did analyze an area of Extreme (D3) Drought covering 20% of Colorado Zone 005 - Upper Yampa River Basin with the 2/4 update. The remaining 80% of the zone were under Severe (D2) Drought conditions. From this point through the end of the month, there were no recorded changes to drought conditions in this zone. No reports of impacts or damages related to this drought were received.

Above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation continued through the month of February. This led to a continued state of drought across eastern Utah and western Colorado, particularly along the northern and central Colorado Divide mountains. Extreme (D3) Drought saw expansion during the middle of the month, moving into portions of lower elevation northwest Colorado.