Moderate to severe drought conditions covered all of western Colorado by the end of May, with extreme drought conditions developing across the northwest portion of the state. A historically reduced snow pack and resultant below normal runoff, below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures all contributed to the increase in elevated drought conditions across the region. An increase in wildland fire danger was the main impact from the drought conditions in the late Spring period.

Drought in PARADOX VALLEY / LOWER DOLORES RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Moderate to severe drought conditions expanded across the lower valleys of southwest Colorado during May as spring precipitation remained below normal.

Drought in NORTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Moderate drought conditions expanded across the southern Colorado mountains due to a reduced snow pack and continued below normal precipitation through the spring.

Drought in UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions spread across the southern plateau region of western Colorado in May as precipitation remained well below normal.

Drought in UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions persisted across the upper Gunnison River Valley due to a reduced snow pack and continued below normal precipitation through the spring.

Drought in CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions spread across the central portions of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre River basins as spring precipitation remained well below normal and runoff from the snow pack was greatly reduced.

Drought in ANIMAS RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Moderate drought conditions spread across the area in May as precipitation and river flows continued to run below normal.

Drought in SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Moderate drought conditions spread across the area in May as precipitation and river flows continued to run below normal.

Drought in FOUR CORNERS / UPPER DOLORES RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Moderate drought conditions spread across the Four Corners region of Colorado in May as precipitation and river flows continued to run below normal.

Drought in SOUTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Moderate drought conditions expanded across the southern Colorado mountains due to a reduced snow pack and continued below normal precipitation through the spring.

Drought in GRAND VALLEY, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions remained in place across the lower reaches of the Gunnison and  Colorado River basins as spring precipitation remained well below normal and runoff from the snow pack was greatly reduced.

Drought in WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions remained in place across much of the central mountain areas of western Colorado. However a small portion of extreme drought moved into the northwest corner of the area by the end of May.

Drought in GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions persisted across the southern portions of the Grand Mesa and an area of extreme drought developed across Battlement Mesa and the remainder of the Grand Mesa in May as precipitation remained well below normal and a limited snow pack kept runoff at a minimum.

Drought in GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions remained in place across much of the central mountains of western Colorado as below normal precipitation continued through the spring.

Drought in DEBEQUE TO SILT CORRIDOR, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions transitioned to extreme conditions across the middle portions of the Colorado River basin in May as precipitation through the spring remained well below normal.

Drought in CENTRAL COLORADO RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions remained in place across the upper portions of the Colorado River basin in May as precipitation through the spring remained below normal.

Drought in ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions transitioned to extreme conditions across much the area in May as precipitation through the spring remained well below normal.

Drought in FLATTOP MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions transitioned to extreme conditions across the area in May as spring precipitation amounts remained well below normal.

Drought in ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions persisted across the northern portion of the area while extreme drought conditions spread across the southern portion of the area in May as spring precipitation amounts remained well below normal.

Drought in UPPER YAMPA RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions transitioned to extreme drought conditions across the upper Yampa River basin in May as precipitation remained well below normal.

Drought in LOWER YAMPA RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions transitioned to extreme drought conditions across the lower Yampa River basin in May as precipitation remained well below normal.

Drought in CENTRAL YAMPA RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions transitioned to extreme drought conditions across the central Yampa River basin in May as precipitation remained well below.