The Mesa County Drought Is About Over

The Mesa County Drought Is About Over

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Mesa County's drought situation continues to improve.

I've written a few times about Colorado's drought situation and the improving snowpack in the high country. Snow is being measured in feet in the higher elevations and just a couple days ago the latest USDA watershed report estimated the Colorado snowpack above 100% for the first time in a few years. What about in the Grand Valley?

A 'near normal' winter has brought much-needed snow and rain to the region. Several storms have rolled through this season helping the Grand Valley recover. According to the latest updated maps from the United States Drought Monitor, nearly all of Colorado is clear of the 'Extreme Drought' destination. Only a tiny sliver of land along the southwestern border still has the dark red coloration on the map. Northwest New Mexico is the only area left with the 'Extreme Drought' destination.

The latest drought report shows that much of Mesa County and the Grand Valley is now in a 'Moderate Drought' situation. That's a huge improvement and there's more good news, the National Weather Service forecast is calling for more rain. "We're improving greatly and we are having a storm over the next three days. We're looking for another couple of feet of snow up there so I expect that, in another week or two, that's even going to improve," reports Tom Renwick of the National Weather Service.

Saturday
Periods of showers, mainly after 11 am. High near 48. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night
Rain showers before 1 am, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 1 am and 3 am, then a chance of snow showers after 3 am. Low around 32. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Sunday
A chance of snow showers before 9 am, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 9 am and 10 am, then a chance of rain showers after 10 am. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. West northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday Night
A chance of rain showers before 8 pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 8 pm and 10 pm, then a chance of snow showers after 10 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Credit: KKCO11News

Filed Under: Colorado drought, Colorado snowpack, United States Drought Monitor
Categories: Articles, Outdoors, Western Slope News

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