Drought in Elkhead and Park Mountains, Colorado

At the beginning of the month of March, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought as covering approximately 40% of Colorado Zone 004 - Elkhead and Park Mountains. The remaining 60% of the zone was under Severe (D2) Drought conditions. With the 3/11 US Drought Monitor update, Extreme (D3) Drought expanded to cover approximately 80% of the zone, with the remaining 20% under Severe (D2) Drought conditions. With the 3/24 update, Exceptional (D4) Drought developed, now covering 40% of the zone, with the remaining 60% under Extreme (D3) Drought conditions. With the 3/31 update, the entire zone came under Exceptional (D4) Drought. No reports of impacts or losses relating to the drought conditions in the zone have been received.

The month of March continued the trend of much above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation that characterized the winter of 2025-2026. Very little precipitation fell across the region, with all ten climate sites finishing the month with below normal totals. Likewise, temperatures were well above normal, with mean temperatures running 8-10 degrees above normal. As a result, drought remained, and worsened significantly in many locations. And in areas that had, to this point, remained drought free, drought developed and worsened rapidly.