Much of the Front Range Foothills, South Park, Urban Corridor, and northeast CO plains were classified to be in severe to extreme drought (D2/D3) through the month of December. These conditions contributed significantly to the Marshall Wildfire, the costliest fire in Colorado history.  The Front Range experienced a very wet first half of the year, with well above normal precipitation and lush, tall grass growth.  However, starting around July, a persistently dry weather pattern set up and held firm through the entire fall and early winter. Vegetation, while typically dry this time of year, was exceptionally dry as very little precipitation had fallen through the entire fall season. The ongoing drought conditions ensured larger fuels such as shrubs and trees were likewise critically dry.  From the period of July 1st through December 29th,  temperature and precipitation climate records showed Denver was the 2nd warmest, and by far the driest in recorded history (since 1872). Boulder was ranked 2nd warmest for precipitation, while 13th driest in recorded history.

Drought in JEFFERSON & W DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET / GILPIN / CLEAR CREEK / NE PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in N DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / DENVER / W ADAMS & ARAPAHOE COUNTIES / E BROOMFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in ELBERT / C & E DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in NE WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in C & S WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in MORGAN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in LOGAN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in WASHINGTON COUNTY, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in PHILLIPS COUNTY, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in C & SE PARK COUNTY, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / NW WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in BOULDER & JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET / W BROOMFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in C & E ADAMS & ARAPAHOE COUNTIES, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in N & NE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / N LINCOLN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in LARIMER & BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 & 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.

Drought in SE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 01-DEC-21 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe to extreme drought classification (D2/D3) through the month of December.