Intermountain West Dashboard
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The Intermountain West Dashboard provides situational awareness of weather, drought, and water resources for Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
Click the question mark icon above each graphic to see the description of that graphic.
Weekly or monthly summaries of evolving weather, drought, and water conditions for the Intermountain West are also available from these providers:
- Colorado CC/NIDIS Intermountain West Drought Status Briefings
- NOAA CBRFC Water Supply Briefings for the Colorado River Basin and Great Basin - monthly, January through May
- NRCS Water Supply Outlook Reports for Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming - monthly, January through May/June
Temperature, Precipitation and Snowpack
Drought Conditions
Current Streamflow, Forecasted Streamflow
Soil Moisture
Wildfire and Smoke
Reservoir Storage
Precipitation Forecast
Seasonal Climate Outlooks
Experimental Winter Precipitation Forecast
( This tool is out of date. A new version will be available soon. )
ENSO Conditions and Forecasts
Latest Briefing
September 14, 2026 - CO, UT, WY
August precipitation varied across the region due to scattered monsoonal thunderstorms. Regional temperatures were above average in August, and Colorado experienced its warmest August on record, while Utah experienced its second warmest on record. Streamflow conditions were below average for most regional rivers, especially in Colorado and Utah, where many streamflow gages observed record-low daily streamflows. Regional drought coverage changed little from the beginning of August to September and is at 96%. El Niño conditions persist, and there is a greater than 90% probability of a very strong El Niño event during fall and winter 2026-27. NOAA seasonal forecasts indicate an increased probability of above average temperatures for the region, and above average precipitation for Colorado, Utah, and southern Wyoming during September–November.
August precipitation varied across the region, from below average precipitation in southern Colorado, southeastern Utah, and northeastern Wyoming, to above average precipitation in northern and eastern Colorado and much of Utah and Wyoming. Monsoonal thunderstorms caused high variability of precipitation in each state. For example, parts of Emery and adjacent Wayne counties in southeastern Utah experienced below 25% of average conditions, while most counties north and west of there experienced above 150–200% of average conditions.
Regional temperatures were above average in August, with near average temperatures in northern Wyoming. August temperatures were generally 2–4°F above average, but temperatures for much of western Colorado and eastern Utah were 4–6°F above average. Small pockets of 6–8°F above average temperatures occurred in south-central Colorado and southeastern Utah. It was the warmest August on record for Colorado, the second warmest on record for Utah, and the seventh warmest on record for Wyoming. It was the warmest meteorological summer (June–August) on record for Colorado and Utah, and the sixth warmest on record for Wyoming.
At the beginning of September, streamflow was below average for most regional rivers, especially in Colorado and Utah. On September 9, record-low daily streamflow was recorded at 30 or more sites in Colorado, 10 sites in Utah, and two in Wyoming. Western Colorado streamflows are particularly below average, with most rivers experiencing record-low or bottom 10th percentile daily streamflow observations.
By September 1, regional drought coverage was at 96%. Similar to the beginning of August, drought covered the entire region except for a portion of northeastern Colorado, where monsoonal thunderstorms have continued to help relieve the area of drought conditions. Coverage of moderate (D1) drought conditions decreased slightly to 89% in Colorado, remained at 100% in Utah, and increased slightly in Wyoming to cover 100% of the state. Coverage of exceptional (D4) drought conditions decreased to 12% in Colorado, and extreme (D3) drought conditions remained at 35% in Utah and decreased to 29% in Wyoming, a 15% improvement from the beginning of August.
El Niño conditions persist in the eastern Pacific Ocean, with sea surface temperature anomalies running 1.8ºC above average in the Niño-3.4 index. There is a greater than 90% probability of a very strong El Niño event during fall and winter 2026-27, with as high as a 98% probability of a very strong event from October–December. Current forecasts of peak Pacific Ocean temperatures are 3–3.5ºC above average, indicating what could be the strongest El Niño on record. There is a 100% probability of El Niño conditions continuing at least through January–March 2027. NOAA seasonal forecasts indicate an increased probability of above average temperatures for the region, and above average precipitation for Colorado, Utah, and southern Wyoming during September–November, suggesting an active monsoon and the possibility of tropical storm remnants for the remainder of the season.
Significant weather event: Aspen Acres burn scar flooding. On July 28 and 29, severe thunderstorms brought intense rainfall and caused debris flow flooding in the community of Beulah, Colorado. The floodwaters damaged homes, washed out roads, and blocked bridges with debris. The Beulah Fire Protection and Ambulance District prompted emergency evacuations for residents and those along Highway 78. Rainfall rates were 1–3 inches per hour, and the muddy floodwaters carried rocks, burned trees, propane tanks, and other debris downstream. Highways 78 and 165, and other critical roads, were closed, limiting Beulah Valley access to essential and emergency services. Between Beulah and other nearby communities such as San Isabel and Wetmore, at least 11 homes were damaged by flooding, and many roads and culverts required emergency repairs.
On August 16, in about 1.5 hours, 1–1.5 inches of rain fell on the same burn scar in Beulah, triggering another major flash flood and resulting in the death of an 80-year-old resident who was swept away downstream by floodwaters. On August 23, Colorado Governor Jared Polis officially requested a Major Disaster Declaration (MDD) from the President and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support recovery from the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires, and the post-wildfire flooding and debris flows on both burn scars.
Flash flooding in Beulah, Colorado on July 29, 2026. Credit: Pueblo County Sheriff's Office.
August 11, 2026 - CO, UT, WY
July precipitation was above average across much of Utah, western Colorado and western Wyoming, while below average precipitation fell in eastern Wyoming and much of Colorado. Regional temperatures were above to much above average across the region, and all-time daily maximum temperatures were set across all three states. Drought conditions prevail with 97% of the region covered by drought, and extreme or exceptional drought covered 35-45% of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. Seasonal NOAA forecasts suggest active monsoonal precipitation and an increased probability of above average precipitation for the next three months. Monsoonal thunderstorms were responsible for six fatalities in Utah during July; a family of five drowned in a flash flood near Bicknell, UT and a hiker was killed by lightning in the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City.
July precipitation was near-to-above average in most of Utah, southwestern Colorado and western Wyoming. Monsoonal precipitation did not reach the eastern portion of the region, and below average precipitation fell in much of Colorado and eastern Wyoming. Tragically, monsoonal thunderstorms were responsible for six fatalities in Utah during July. Heavy rainfall also caused severe flooding and damage to 200 homes due to debris flows from the Cottonwood Fire burn scar near Beaver, Utah.
July temperatures were above average (+2-4ºF) for the entire region with much above average temperatures (+4-8ºF) across much of Wyoming, northern Colorado and northeastern Utah. All-time record high temperatures were set at many locations during July, including Provo (105ºF) and Salt Lake City (109ºF) in Utah, and Brighton (105ºF) and Burlington (113ºF) in Colorado. During a July 12-13 heatwave in Wyoming, 17 sites set all-time record high temperatures, including Worland (111ºF), Sheridan (109ºF), Thermopolis (109ºF), Cody (106ºF), Riverton (106ºF), Lander (102ºF), Moran (94ºF) and Yellowstone Lake (88ºF). All-time record high temperatures were also recorded in Laramie (94ºF) and Rock Springs (98°F) during July.
At the end of July, streamflow was below average for most regional rivers, especially in Colorado and Utah. On July 29, record low daily streamflow was recorded at 29 sites in Colorado, ten sites in Utah and four in Wyoming, including the Arkansas, Dolores, Eagle, Roaring Fork, South Platte, Uncompahgre and Yampa Rivers. Streamflow on the western slope of Colorado and along the Arkansas and South Platte Rivers was generally flowing at levels in the lowest 10% of all observations.
In late July, regional drought coverage remained at 97%. Drought covered the entire region except for a portion of northeastern Colorado where a small area of drought was removed during July. Coverage of exceptional drought conditions in the Colorado River Headwaters expanded in July.
El Niño conditions are present in the eastern Pacific Ocean with ocean temperatures running 1.5ºC above average. Current forecasts of peak Pacific Ocean temperatures of 2.5-3ºC above average indicate the formation of a very strong El Niño during the 2027 water year, an event that could be the strongest on record. There is a 100% probability of El Niño conditions continuing at least through December to February. NOAA seasonal forecasts indicate an increased probability of above average precipitation for the region during August to October, suggesting an active monsoon for the remainder of the season. Notably, the temperature forecast for August indicates equal chances of above or below average regional temperatures, but there is an increased probability for above average temperatures over the August to October period.
Significant weather event: Monsoonal thunderstorms lead to six fatalities in Utah. On July 17, an isolated thunderstorm near Bicknell, Utah caused flash flooding in a narrow canyon and swept a family of five to their deaths. The family from Provo, UT left for hiking and canyoneering in a slot canyon near Sunglow Campground around noon on 7/17. Sadly, bodies of all five family members were found deceased by the following morning. No precipitation from the storm was recorded at nearby weather stations in Loa, Torrey and Capitol Reef National Park.
On July 18, a 59-year-old man was killed by lightning while hiking in the Wasatch Mountains. The man and his brother were hiking along the exposed ridgeline of American Fork Twin Peaks near Snowbird Ski Area when the localized thunderstorm struck. The storm was very small, producing no rain at nearby sites and three lightning strikes were recorded in the vicinity during that hour.
The Cottonwood Fire burned 97,000 acres during June and July in the Tushar Mountains east of Beaver, Utah. On 7/20, nearly 1.6” of rain fell near Eagle Pointe Ski Area in upper portions of the Beaver River watershed. The ensuing debris flow flood severely damaged five miles of SR 153 which connects Beaver to Eagle Pointe ski area, damaged 80-200 homes and contaminated drinking water for Beaver and four rural communities. Residents from the Grove neighborhood in Beaver were evacuated and suffered the greatest residential home damage.
Flash flooding in Bicknell, Utah. Credit: Matthew Johnson/KSL News.