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
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( This tool is out of date.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
March 12, 2025 - CO, UT, WY
Much of the region experienced its warmest February on record, and Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming ended the season with the warmest December-February on record. As temperatures were much above average throughout the region, precipitation was below to much below average for much of the region, with record-dry conditions along the Front Range, as well as pockets in southeastern Colorado and southern Wyoming. As of March 1, snow drought continues to persist as below to much below normal snow-water equivalent (SWE) was observed for Colorado, Utah, and eastern Wyoming. Seasonal streamflow volume forecasts for regional river basins are below to much below average, except in northern Wyoming where there are near to above average forecasts. Regional drought coverage increased to 76% by early March. The NOAA Seasonal Outlooks for March-May suggest below average precipitation and above average temperatures.
Regional precipitation was below to much below average in February, particularly in northeastern Colorado, with a large pocket of less than 2% of average conditions in Denver, Arapahoe, Adams, Washington, and Weld Counties. Another large pocket of less than 2% of average conditions occurred in southeastern Colorado in Baca County. In contrast, scattered pockets of above average precipitation occurred in each state, with two large pockets of 150-200% of average precipitation in southeastern Colorado and western Wyoming. One small pocket of 200-400% of average precipitation occurred in southeastern Colorado in Kiowa and Bent Counties, and a pocket of 400-800% of average precipitation occurred in western Wyoming in Fremont County. Record-dry February precipitation occurred in many counties along the Front Range in Colorado, including Denver, Boulder, Larimer, Jefferson, Douglas, Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, El Paso, Weld, and Park Counties, as well as Baca County in southeastern Colorado. Record-dry conditions also occurred in Carbon and Albany Counties in southern Wyoming, and Tooele County in western Utah.
Regional temperatures were much above average to record-warm in February. Large swaths of 9 to 12°F above average temperatures occurred in each state, particularly in Wyoming and Colorado, and a large pocket of 12-15°F above average temperatures occurred in southwestern Wyoming. Colorado and Wyoming experienced the warmest February on record, and Utah experienced the third warmest February on record. All three states experienced the warmest meteorological winter (December-February) on record. These records are ranked by NOAA NCEI from 1895-2026.
Below to much below normal snow-water equivalent (SWE) continues in Colorado, Utah, and eastern Wyoming as of March 1. River basins with 50% or less of normal SWE include the Upper Arkansas (45%) in Colorado, and the Lower Colorado-Lake Mead (50%), Upper Colorado-Dirty Devil (47%), Escalante Desert-Sevier Lake (46%), and Lower San Juan (23%) in Utah. In contrast, western Wyoming river basins have near normal SWE, including the Snake Headwaters (96%), Upper Yellowstone (95%), Big Horn (94%), and the Upper Green (91%). Due to record-warm temperatures and below average precipitation for most of the region this winter, snow drought continues to persist.
Seasonal streamflow volume forecasts for river basins in Colorado, Utah, and southeastern Wyoming are below to much below average. Near to above average seasonal streamflow volumes are forecasted for northern Wyoming. In Colorado, seasonal streamflow forecasts suggest 45-60% of average runoff for all major river basins. Runoff in most major Utah river basins is forecasted at 35-55% of average, except for the Bear River Basin (72%). Wyoming has a mix of streamflow forecasts, with below average forecasts in the Little Snake (46%), North Platte (52%), Cheyenne (57%), Upper Green (64%), and Laramie (69%) River Basins, near average forecasts in the Tongue (93%), Wind (93%), Powder (95%), and Yellowstone (108%) River Basins, and above average forecasts in the Shoshone (113%) and Big Horn (123%) River Basins. Below average inflow is forecasted for many regional reservoirs, including Lake Powell (36%), Navajo (44%), McPhee (47%), Blue Mesa (50%), Guernsey (52%), Deer Creek (53%), Scofield (56%), Deerfield (57%), and Flaming Gorge (64%) Reservoirs.
Dry and warm conditions during February caused regional drought coverage to increase to 76% by March 3 (drought covered 63% of the region on February 3). Drought conditions especially deteriorated in Wyoming, where moderate (D1) drought coverage increased by 33%, severe (D2) drought coverage increased by 14%, and extreme (D3) drought emerged in southwestern and southeastern Wyoming. In Colorado, D2 drought coverage increased by 11%, and D3 drought coverage increased by 3%, emerging in the Denver Metro region and northwestern Colorado. Utah drought coverage remained the same, with an emergence of D3 drought in northeastern Utah.
As of mid-February, La Niña conditions are declining and there is a 90% probability of transitioning to ENSO-neutral conditions during March-May. The NOAA March Precipitation Outlook suggests equal chances while the March Temperature Outlook suggests an increased probability of above average temperatures throughout the region. The NOAA Seasonal Precipitation Outlook for March-May suggests an increased probability of below average precipitation in Colorado, Utah, and southern Wyoming, and particularly in the Four Corners region. The NOAA Seasonal Temperature Outlook for March-May suggests an increased probability of above average temperatures in Colorado, Utah, and southern and western Wyoming, and particularly in southern Utah and southwestern Colorado.
Significant weather event: Extremely warm and dry winter for the Front Range. Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming experienced the warmest meteorological winter (December-February) on record, and Colorado and Wyoming experienced the warmest February on record. Colorado’s statewide average temperature for December-February was 33.6°F, surpassing the previous record of 32.0°F during the 1980-1981 winter season. Colorado’s Front Range had a particularly warm and dry February, causing extreme (D3) drought to emerge in the Denver Metro region. Denver, Adams, and Arapahoe Counties experienced their driest February on record. Denver experienced its second warmest winter on record, with an average temperature of 39.6°F, just short of the 40.1°F record from the 1933-1934 winter season. For context, the average winter temperature for Denver is 31.9°F, which this winter season significantly exceeds. Denver also experienced its driest winter, with only 13.4 inches of snow recorded by the end of February, well below the average of about 35 inches of snow for December-February. These warm and dry conditions were due to many factors, but the persistent high-pressure ridge that stayed over the western U.S. coupled with La Niña conditions was particularly notable in keeping moisture and cold temperatures out of the region.
February 6, 2026 - CO, UT, WY
Continued drought conditions plagued much of the region during January. After significant regional precipitation during the first week and a half of January, dry conditions dominated, and little precipitation fell during the remainder of the month. Consequently, regional snowpack and streamflow volume forecasts are extremely low. Record low statewide snowpack conditions exist in Colorado and Utah while Wyoming statewide SWE is 84% of average, driven by wetter conditions in western and northern Wyoming. While northern Wyoming streamflows are near to above average, much below average streamflow volumes are forecasted for the remainder of the region including Lake Powell which is forecasted to receive 38% of average inflow. With Lakes Mead and Powell storage hovering just above 25%, forecasts of low Colorado River flows, and continued Post-2026 Guidelines negotiations, 2026 is certain to be a challenging year for regional water managers.
January precipitation was much below normal for the majority of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming and over three-quarters of the region received less the 75% of average precipitation. Small areas of near average precipitation fell in all three states and eastern Colorado received 125-400% of average January precipitation.
Temperatures were above average across the entire region during January. January temperatures in all of Utah and Wyoming and large portions of Colorado exceeded three degrees above average. Northwestern Colorado, northeastern Utah and western Wyoming observed January temperatures that were six to twelve degrees above average.
February 1st snowpack conditions were poor across most of the region. Colorado and Utah snow water equivalent (SWE) was 55% of median at the start of February and at record low levels. Snowpack conditions in Wyoming are slightly better with 84% median SWE statewide. Western Wyoming river basins (Bighorn, Green, Snake, and Yellowstone) had near median SWE. Regional snowpack conditions generally deteriorate from north to south with the worst snowpack conditions in the Arkansas, Rio Grande, and San Juan River basins where less than 50% median SWE has accumulated. Real-time estimates of SWE based on satellite imagery suggest significantly poorer snowpack conditions compared to SNOTEL measurements of SWE. These spatial estimates of SWE often differ from SNOTEL SWE measurements because they capture SWE across the entire elevation range while SNOTEL measures SWE across a narrower elevation range. In Utah, February 1 river basin percent SWE varied from 12-54% of average; in Colorado, basin percent SWE ranged from 19-54%; and in Wyoming, basin SWE ranged from 4-110%.
Seasonal streamflow volume forecasts for river basins in Colorado, Utah and southeastern Wyoming are much below average. Near to above average seasonal streamflow volumes are forecasted for much of Wyoming. In the Upper Colorado River Basin, streamflow volume forecasts ranged from 30-92% of average and seasonal inflow volume to Lake Powell is forecasted at 38% of average (2.4 million acre-feet). The Upper Green River Basin and other northern Wyoming basins (Big Horn, Powder and Yellowstone) are forecasted to receive 92-122% of average streamflow volumes. On the Great Basin side of the Wasatch Mountains and Plateaus of Utah, streamflow volume forecasts ranged from 35% of average for the Weber Basin to 54% of average for the Six Creeks watershed in Salt Lake County. Similarly, low streamflow volume forecasts were issued for the Arkansas (63%), Noth Platte (58%) and South Platte (76%) River Basins.
Dry and warm conditions during January caused regional drought coverage to increase to 63% (54% of region on 12/30/25). Drought conditions especially deteriorated in Colorado, where moderate drought emerged in northeastern and southwestern Colorado and severe drought expanded in western Colorado. The area of extreme and exceptional drought in the Colorado River headwaters increased in area during January. Drought emerged in eastern Wyoming and severe drought expanded in the southern portion of the state.
As of mid-January, La Niña conditions persist in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Pacific Ocean conditions are expected to warm and there is a 69% probability of neutral conditions emerging in the next two months. Despite the forecast for warming Pacific Ocean temperatures, ocean temperatures decreased slightly in late January. NOAA monthly forecasts for February suggest an increased probability for below average precipitation across the entire region and above average temperatures for Colorado, Utah and southwestern Wyoming. On the three-month timescale, NOAA forecasts indicate an increased probability of below average precipitation in southern Colorado and southern Utah. February-April temperatures are likely to be above average in Utah and southwestern Colorado.
Significant weather event: Upper Colorado River Basin drought. The Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) began the 2026 water year with severe or extreme drought conditions covering nearly the entire watershed. Drought conditions have eased slightly, largely due to a wet October, but basin SWE is currently at 60% of median which is a record low (since 1986). If an average amount of SWE accumulates in the UCRB from February 10 to early April, then the 2026 peak SWE would remain low at 77% of average. Poor snow conditions and relatively dry soils throughout much of the UCRB have resulted in very low (38% of average) Colorado River inflow forecasts to Lake Powell. With a current Lake Powell elevation of 3,535 feet and poor Colorado River streamflow volume forecasts, low reservoir elevations will threaten Glen Canyon Dam’s ability to generate electricity by the end of 2026. The US Bureau of Reclamation’s 24-Month Study projects Lake Powell elevations two years into the future. Under the “Most Probable” scenario, Lake Powell elevation falls to 3,513 feet, just 23 feet above the elevation that the hydroelectricity-generating turbines must be shut down. Under the “Minimum Probable” scenario, reservoir elevations fall to 3,490.6 feet, just inches above the level that power generation at Glen Canyon Dam must cease. Operating Glen Canyon Dam is possible below 3,490 feet, but electrical generation must be bypassed and the alternate outlet for the dam was not engineered to run continuously. With Lakes Mead and Powell sitting at one-third and one-quarter full, only 15 million acre-feet (MAF) of combined water storage exists. However, only 6.3 MAF is available for consumption since nearly 9 MAF of water sits below the deadpool elevation of the reservoirs (Colorado River Research Group, "Dancing with Deadpool"). That means that current accessible storage in the two large reservoirs is less than one year of Lower Basin water deliveries from Lake Powell (7.5 MAF). While the UCRB has faced significant drought challenges over the last 25 years, current and forecasted conditions are taking the basin into truly unprecedented waters.
