Colorado's Drought: Is it the Worst Ever?

Colorado is grappling with a persistent drought, with state climatologist Russ Schumacher noting that current conditions rank among the worst in recorded history. While 2002 is remembered as exceptionally severe, the present drought is also extreme, affecting almost the entire state. Nearly half of Colorado is categorized as being in extreme or exceptional drought, a situation that has persisted for three months.

This severe drought is particularly concerning as it impacts the headwaters of major rivers like the Colorado and Arkansas. These conditions can have long-term ripple effects for millions of people downstream. While a "very strong" El Niño is anticipated, offering some promise for wetter conditions, there are no guarantees it will fully alleviate the drought. Experts note that climate change contributes to hotter weather, making extreme conditions more probable and intensifying the drought when precipitation is scarce.