Drought conditions in Boulder County and across the state are looking the best they have in a while.
The U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday for Colorado, which includes conditions through Jan. 10, has 40% of the state under no drought conditions. That area includes Boulder County, much of the Front Range and the Western Slope.
Less than 2.3% of the state is considered to be in extreme or exceptional drought, the most intense conditions as ranked by the U.S. Drought Monitor. The driest parts of the state are to the east.
This time last year, all parts of Colorado were in some level of drought, including 20% of the state in extreme drought. Most of Boulder County was in severe drought last year.
Recent snowfall has improved drought conditions in Boulder County, which was abnormally dry on about three-quarters of the county at the end of 2022.
As a result, many of the river basins in Colorado are seeing snow water equivalents above historical averages. The South Platte River Basin, that Longmont sits in, is at 110% of the 30-year median, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The Colorado Headwaters, which Longmont relies on in part for its water, is at 129% the historical median.
The snow water equivalent for these basins typically peak in April, so there are still several weeks ahead before it can be said with certainty that this year will be an above average snow year for the area.
