US Western Drought

Hydrologists working high in the Rocky Mountains have measured what they say is Colorado’s driest winter of snow moisture on record. That means water shortfalls are likely ahead as drought persists across Colorado and other western states. The paltry snow was even worse than what ranchers considered the bad drought years of 2002, 1981 and 1977. Statewide records go back nearly a century. At this time, snowpack usually is at its peak in the Colorado Rockies. But high-country ranchers say they're already having to think about how to get water and feed for their cattle in the months ahead.