Exceptional drought returns to southeast Colorado

Exceptional drought - the worst category - reentered Colorado for the first time since February of last year according to the latest report from the National Drought Mitigation Center.

About half of Baca County, long with a portion of southwest Prowers County, are now in exceptional drought conditions. Above average temperatures and low humidity, along with wind and minimal rain contributed to the ongoing degradation in the southeast portion of the state.

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Colorado Drought Conditions - June 30, 2020. Courtesy National Drought Mitigation Center

Extreme conditions expanded in southwest Colorado, taking in western Ouray County, central Montrose County, and an increased part of eastern San Miguel County.

Southern and eastern Weld County, along with the remainder of northeast Morgan County, moved into abnormally dry conditions.

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MAP Monthly Drought Outlook - released June 30 for July 2020. Courtesy NWS

The U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center calls for drought to persist through July. Through September, drought is expected to expand further in northwest and central Colorado.

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Seasonal Drought Outlook - June 18-September 30, 2020. Courtesy NWS

Overall, one percent of the state is now in exceptional drought, while extreme conditions held steady at 33 percent. Severe drought dropped one point to 22 percent versus the prior week. Moderate drought was unchanged at 12 percent while abnormally dry conditions were up one percent to 16. The drought-free area of Colorado fell one percent to 16.

Governor Jared Polis activated Colorado's Drought Task Force and Phase 2 of the State Drought Mitigation and Response Plan last week as drought conditions deepen. All or portions of 40 of the states 64 counties are experiencing severe, extreme or excpetional drought. Phase 2 activates the Agricultural Impact Task Force, which will conduct an initial assessment on physical and economic impacts and recommend opportunities for mitigation.

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Colorado Drought Conditions - June 23, 2020. Courtesy National Drought Mitigation Center

Just under 1.5 million people in Colorado live in drought-impacted parts of the state.

More than two-thirds of the state is experiencing moderate drought or worse. One year ago, Colorado was free from abnormally dry conditions and all levels of drought for the first time since tracking began in 2000.

Drought classes include (ranked from least to most severe) D0 - abnormally dry, D1 - moderate, D2 - severe, D3 - extreme, and D4 - exceptional drought.