Drought in Central Colorado River Basin, Colorado

At the beginning of the month of March, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Exceptional (D4) Drought as covering approximately 5% of Colorado Zone 008 - Central Colorado River Basin. Extreme (D3) Drought covered 90% of the zone, with 5% still under Severe (D2) Drought conditions. With the 3/24 update, Exceptional (D4) Drought expanded to cover 95% of the zone, with 5% still under Extreme (D3) Drought conditions. With the 3/31 update, Exceptional (D4) Drought conditions now covered 100% of the zone. No reports of impacts or losses related to 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.