How has Colorado’s recent rain impacted drought?

Recent rain in southern Colorado could help alleviate our drought, but by just how much?

Southern Colorado has finally started to experience more storms in the last few weeks, bringing inches of rain in various areas. This comes after dealing with one of the driest and warmest winter and spring seasons in more than a century. People we talked to agree — this rain is beneficial.

This recent moisture could certainly improve our drought – at least, slightly. However, assessing our drought situation is complicated.

Our drought now features widespread extreme and exceptional drought. Compare that to our drought from March, when the extreme conditions were confined to Baca County and the Sangres.

In order to see real, sustainable relief from the drought, we need several storm systems that produce rain for multiple days. In fact, we need months of above-average precipitation. Scientists who analyze the drought look at somewhere between 50-100 metrics to determine any improvement or worsening conditions. This includes things like soil moisture, temperatures, stream flows, long-term and short-term precipitation.

A bad drought negatively affects agriculture and fire danger. A severe drought that persists for more than six months can impact things like hydrology and ecology.

The drought evolves on a daily and weekly basis. The latest drought monitor will be released this Thursday.

Here’s to hoping that the upcoming months provide much-needed rain to southern Colorado.