Drought in Grand and Battlement Mesas, Colorado

With the 3/24 US Drought Monitor update, an area of Extreme (D3) Drought was analyzed as covering approximately 50% of Colorado Zone 009 - Grand and Battlement Mesas, with the remaining 50% under Severe (D2) Drought conditions. With the 3/31 US Drought Monitor update, Exceptional (D4) Drought had developed, covering approximately 35% of the zone. Extreme (D3) Drought now covered approximately 55% of the zone, with 10% of the zone still under Severe (D2) Drought conditions. No reports of impacts or losses related to drought conditions in the zone have been received.

After a week of temperatures running close to 30 degrees above normal, and a continued lack of precipitation, drought expanded significantly across eastern Utah and western Colorado. Areas that had been in Moderate (D1) to Severe (D2) Drought now worsened into Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) Drought.