Drought — Morgan County, Colorado

2021-12-01 to 2021-12-31 · Morgan County, Colorado

Event narrative

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Wider weather episode

Much of the Front Range Foothills, South Park, Urban Corridor, and northeast CO plains were classified to be in severe to extreme drought (D2/D3) through the month of December. These conditions contributed significantly to the Marshall Wildfire, the costliest fire in Colorado history. The Front Range experienced a very wet first half of the year, with well above normal precipitation and lush, tall grass growth. However, starting around July, a persistently dry weather pattern set up and held firm through the entire fall and early winter. Vegetation, while typically dry this time of year, was exceptionally dry as very little precipitation had fallen through the entire fall season. The ongoing drought conditions ensured larger fuels such as shrubs and trees were likewise critically dry. From the period of July 1st through December 29th, temperature and precipitation climate records showed Denver was the 2nd warmest, and by far the driest in recorded history (since 1872). Boulder was ranked 2nd warmest for precipitation, while 13th driest in recorded history.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 992736. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.