Drought in Upper Yampa River Basin, Colorado

At the beginning of the month of March, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought as covering approximately 20% of Colorado Zone 005 - Upper Yampa River Basin, with the remainder of the zone under Severe (D2) Drought. With the 3/11 US Drought Monitor update, Extreme (D3) Drought expanded to cover 100% of the zone. With the 3/24 update, Exceptional (D4) Drought conditions developed, covering approximately 45% of the zone, with the remaining 55% under Extreme (D3) Drought conditions. With the 3/31 update, Exceptional (D4) Drought expanded to cover 100% of the zone. No reports of impacts or losses related 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.