Drought Conditions
Please see the U.S. Drought Monitor for current Colorado drought conditions.
Follow current conditions and climate outlooks by tuning into the monthly Water Conditions Monitoring Committee (WCMC) meetings.
Water Year 2024 Review: This water year (October 2023 - September 2024) was very warm across the whole state. In fact, Water Year 2024 was the 6th warmest year on the 129-year record, and parts of Morgan County experienced a record-warm year. Statewide average precipitation was near normal, ranking 62nd driest in the 129-year record. However, the Denver Metro area and Northern Front Range experienced one of its driest summers on record, while parts of the San Luis Valley experienced record-wet conditions this year. There was more precipitation in the San Luis Valley than in Fort Collins this year.
For a more in depth look at Water Year 2024, take a look at Colorado Climate Center's Water Year 2024 Review.
- Drought Planning Resources
- Drought Management Planning: A Guide for Water Providers
- Drought Management Planning: Worksheet for drought response action plans
- Drought Advisors - Drought Plan Program for agricultural producers
- Colorado Ag Water Alliance (CAWA) Drought Resilience Program
- Enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan
Regional
- Intermountain West Climate Dashboard from Western Water Assessment
- Colorado Basin River Forecast Center
National
- Drought Funding Resources
- CWCB Agricultural Emergency Drought Response Program
- CWCB has two big funding programs: Water Plan Grant program and the Water Supply Reserve Fund that assist Colorado water users in addressing a variety of water issues and interests.
- Department of Local Affairs Local Community Funding Guide is a comprehensive database that provides additional drought planning and response grants and resources.
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment offered funding programs related to water quality.
- USDA Disaster Assistance Programs offer funding to help farmers, ranchers, communities, and businesses that have been hit hard by natural disaster events.
- Helpful Reports, Tools, and Trainings
- These StoryMap case studies (May 2020) review how drought impacts Colorado's outdoor recreation and agriculture industries.
- The Future Avoided Cost Explorer (May 2020) quantifies direct impacts of current and future droughts on select sectors of the Colorado economy.
- The Drought Vulnerability Tool (March 2019) takes users through visual summaries of Colorado drought risk by sectors, based on Colorado’s 2018 Drought Plan.
