Still no moisture for the plains
/ FOX21/Matthew Kruger
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Dry weather and fire danger has plagued the plains, but conditions like this are not all that uncommon. So just how bad has it been in 2011?
The persistent strong La Nina pattern predictably kept the southern half of the state dry and warm throughout the winter. Temperatures ran well above average, and low-elevation snowfall was dismal. Fire season started early and strong with wildfires a huge problem in the Front Range areas.
Mountains fared well in snowpack overall. However, there was a noticeable decline in snowpack in the southern mountain ranges of Colorado.
Springtime brought a few more opportunities for moisture, but any soaking rains stayed just to the north. Extremely dry conditions remain on the southern plains.
As of June first, Colorado Springs (KCOS) has recorded 2.16" of precipitation. This is well less than half of normal for the year.
Pueblo (KPUB) has recorded 2.43". This is just over half of normal for the year.
Alamosa (KALS) has rcorded 0.78". This is barely one-third of normal.
However, other areas in the state are faring much better. With storm systems staying to the north, places like Denver (KDEN) are seeing above-normal rainfall. KDEN has seen 7.24" this year which is over 110% of normal. This thanks to recent soaking rains that stayed just 50 miles north of Colorado Springs!
Warm weather has returned, which will increase snowmelt in the mountains. The good news is that overall, reservoirs are doing well. Increased water usage will speed up the drying the in reservoirs however. The overall outlook for the next several months is for equal chances of a wet or dry summer for the plains.
The southern Colorado plains are all officially in a severe, extreme, or exceptional drought, the driest rating given to an area.
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