Drought in Flattop Mountains, Colorado

At the beginning of the month of March, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought as covering approximately 75% of Colorado Zone 013 - Flattop Mountains, with the remaining 25% under Severe (D2) Drought conditions. With the 3/11 US Drought Monitor update, Extreme (D3) Drought expanded to cover approximately 85% of the zone, with the remaining 15% under Severe (D2) Drought conditions. With the 3/24 update, Exceptional (D4) Drought developed, covering approximately 80% of the zone, with 20% under Extreme (D3) Drought conditions. With the 3/31 update, Exceptional (D4) Drought 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.