Warm Weather Means Drought Conditions throughout the State

Colorado residents have been enjoying unusually warm weather so far this fall, but that means drought conditions throughout the state.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of Colorado in some state of dry or drought conditions.  That's compared to about 20% last year at this time.

Mark Wankowski is a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Pueblo. He says we're likely to have snow in the northern mountains this winter, but it will probably stay dry in the southern part of the state.

"The upcoming winter season, which is December through February of 2017, we're also looking for above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation," Wankowski says.

He says drought conditions likely contributed to two wildfires that sparked in the region in October.

Much of southern Colorado is listed as in moderate drought, including El Paso, Pueblo, and Otero Counties.