Rains ease Colorado drought, aid Ukraine crops

Recent heavy rain and flooding eased drought across Colorado, with the share of the state in drought falling from 61% to about 50% and the area free of dryness rising to 35%. Despite the improvement, extreme and exceptional drought remains entrenched in the central and northern mountains, where conditions are worse than at this point last year. Aspen remains in exceptional drought and under a Stage Three water shortage declaration, although recent precipitation helped bring streamflows in the Castle and Maroon watersheds back to around average after they fell to roughly 30% of normal late in the summer. Forecasts suggest drought could improve slightly in parts of western Colorado over the next few months, but officials will continue monitoring conditions before reconsidering restrictions.