Drought in Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus, Colorado

With the 3/24 US Drought Monitor update, an area of Extreme (D3) Drought was analyzed as covering approximately 55% of Colorado Zone 003 - Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus, with the remaining 45% under Severe (D2) Drought conditions. With the 3/31 US Drought Monitor update, Exceptional (D4) Drought had developed, covering approximately 50% of the zone. The remaining 50% of the was now under Extreme (D3) 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.