2.5 million Coloradans living amid abnormal dryness after 40% uptick in week

Colorado has experienced a noteworthy jump in dryness in recent days, shifting toward a drier situation in much of the Centennial State.

According to the US Drought Monitor , 40.32 percent of the state is now 'abnormally dry' or worse as of July 16, with 11.07 percent of the state being in technical drought – 9.75 percent being in the less-serious 'moderate drought' phase (stage one of four). This compares to just 28.74 percent of the state being 'abnormally dry or worse' as reported on July 9, meaning a 40 percent week-over-week uptick.

The driest areas are located in northern Colorado and in the Central Mountains. The 1.32 percent of the state that's in the more serious 'severe drought' phase – the second of four phases – is located mostly in Boulder and Larimer counties.

It's also worth noting that about double the acreage in Colorado is 'abnormally dry to worse' compared to the same time last year, when about 20.05 percent of the state met that criteria (currently 40.32 percent).

As of last report, 2.5 million Coloradans are living in 'drought' areas, which includes areas considered 'abnormally dry' but not yet in one of the four stages of technical drought.

Unfortunately, signs seem to point to drought getting worse before it gets much better. The next few months are expected to be hotter and drier than the norm in Colorado – two factors that can contribute to increased dryness.

Explore the data here .

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