Colorado is staring down another bone-dry week of record-challenging warmth while the worst drought in over a decade tightens its grip on the state.
Highs will climb into the upper 60s and lower 70s across western Colorado through Friday, with zero chance of measurable precipitation anywhere in the state. The National Weather Service says this pattern locks in one of the driest starts to March on record.
Drought Monitor Shows Alarming Worsening Across Colorado
The U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday morning painted a grim picture. Exceptional drought, the highest category, now covers Steamboat Springs, the Park Range, and much of northwest Colorado. Extreme drought blankets the Elk Mountains, Grand Mesa, and the Vail-to-Aspen corridor.
Severe drought expanded in the San Juan Mountains along Highway 550, while moderate to severe drought continues to choke the Grand Valley, Delta, Montrose, and Gunnison areas.
More than 68% of Colorado is now in severe drought or worse, the highest percentage since the historic 2012-2013 drought.
Fire Danger Spikes Tuesday with Gusty Winds and Critically Dry Fuels
A cold front sweeps through Tuesday afternoon, but it brings no moisture, only wind.
The Storm Prediction Center has already highlighted western Colorado for elevated fire weather conditions Tuesday. Gusts of 25-35 mph combined with single-digit humidity and dead-fine fuels will create dangerous wildfire potential.
Grand Junction NWS issued this blunt warning Monday morning: “Any fire starts Tuesday will have extreme rates of spread. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.”
Multiple counties from Mesa to Moffat are under burn bans, and Stage 1 fire restrictions went into effect this past weekend in parts of the Western Slope.
Record Warmth Returns Mid-to-Late Week
After a briefly cooler Wednesday, temperatures surge again.
Grand Junction could hit 72-74°F by Friday or Saturday, which would tie or break the March record high. Montrose, Delta, and Moab are all forecasting lower 70s by the weekend.
Overnight lows will stay unusually warm too, mostly in the mid-30s to low 40s, giving snowpack zero chance to recover.
Colorado’s statewide snowpack sits at just 64% of normal as of March 10, with many western basins below 50%. The Arkansas and Upper Rio Grande basins are running at their lowest levels for this date in over 40 years.
Farmers and Ranchers Brace for Another Brutal Year
Early-season irrigation calls have already started along the Colorado River. Ranchers in Moffat and Routt counties are selling off cattle early because pastures never recovered from last year’s drought.
“Two years in a row like this and a lot of us won’t make it,” one Craig-area rancher posted on X yesterday. That post has been shared over 400 times in 24 hours.
Water providers in Grand Junction, Montrose, and Durango are urging residents to cut outdoor water use now, even before spring truly arrives.
The Colorado River Water Conservation District warned last week that Lake Powell could drop into the critical shortage zone again by summer if this dry pattern continues.
Colorado’s warm, dry streak isn’t just bad luck. Climate scientists point to a persistent La Niña and a blocking high over the West that has parked itself for months.
The Climate Prediction Center’s latest outlook shows above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation likely continuing through May for most of the state.
We haven’t had a statewide soaking rain since early November. Four months and counting.
This isn’t just another dry spell anymore. This is a drought emergency unfolding in real time, and this week’s beautiful weather is making it worse.
Tell us in the comments: Have you ever seen March this dry and warm where you live? Share your thoughts and photos below. If you’re on X or Instagram, use #ColoradoDrought2025 so we can all see what’s happening across the state.
