The 14-week streak is over: Fueled by a dry couple months, drought conditions officially returned to Colorado this week, following more moist conditions in the spring and early summer.
A sliver of Montezuma and La Plata counties in the far southwestern corner of the state were under “moderate” drought conditions, or “D1,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. About 36,000 people live in the drought area.
D1 is the lowest drought level, followed by severe, extreme and exceptional conditions. A larger area of southwest Colorado is what the drought monitor considers “abnormally dry” but not quite to the level of drought conditions. Areas of central Colorado and corners in the southeast and northwest part of the state are also abnormally dry.
The state became 100% drought-free in late May, marking first time in nearly 20 years of monitoring that no drought conditions were in Colorado.
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