Drought in West Elk and Sawatch Mountains, Colorado

At the beginning of the month of March the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought as covering approximately 2% of Colorado Zone 012 - West Elk and Sawatch Mountains. Approximately 48% of the zone was under Severe (D2) Drought conditions, with the remaining 50% under Moderate (D1) Drought conditions. With the 3/24 US Drought Monitor update, Extreme (D3) Drought expanded to cover approximately 30% of the zone, with the remaining 70% under Severe (D2) Drought. With the 3/31 update, Exceptional (D4) Drought developed, covering approximately 30% of the zone, with 60% of the zone under Extreme (D3) Drought conditions, 15% under Severe (D2) Drought conditions, and 5% under Moderate (D1) Drought conditions. 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.