- Arizona and Utah saw modest drought relief in early May.
- California and Nevada saw no change as dry season approaches.
- Wyoming’s conditions improved in the northwest, worsened in the south.
- Half the Colorado River Basin remains in moderate or worse drought.
Saturday, May 10, 2025 — A slow-moving spring weather pattern has brought both relief and worsening drought across the United States, with significant changes noted in the Colorado River Basin. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor report released on May 8, 2025
, some areas received more than 2 inches of precipitation in early May, which helped ease drought in parts of the Southwest. However, other regions—particularly parts of Wyoming and New Mexico—continued to face intensifying dryness.
As of May 6, 2025, only 31.21% of the Colorado River Basin is entirely free from drought. The rest—over two-thirds of the region—remains categorized under some level of dryness or drought. Severe drought (D2) still affects approximately 30% of the region, while extreme drought (D3) continues in more than 15% of the area.
Arizona and Utah: Welcome Moisture, but Still Dry.
Parts of Arizona benefited from April rains that were “at or above normal,” leading to a one-category improvement in drought conditions. Similarly, areas of Utah also saw drought designations eased thanks to recent precipitation. However, large swaths of both states remain in moderate drought (D1) or worse.
California and Nevada: No Shift as Dry Season Sets In.
No changes were made to drought classifications in California or Nevada. Both states are now entering their characteristically dry season, and any drought relief will likely depend on sporadic summer thunderstorms or longer-term shifts in climate patterns.
Colorado and New Mexico: A Mixed Picture.
In Colorado, no major statewide changes were reported, though western and southern areas remain under varying drought levels. Eastern New Mexico received heavy rainfall in late April and early May, resulting in a one-category improvement. However, much of the state still contends with severe drought (D2) and below-normal soil moisture.
The report noted, “Recent widespread, heavy precipitation along with consideration of multiple drought indicators… led to a 1-category improvement across eastern New Mexico.”
Wyoming: A Tale of Two Halves.
Wyoming experienced both improvement and decline. A broad area of northeastern Wyoming, along with adjacent parts of western South Dakota, saw drought ease due to “recent wetness and a positive recovery among multiple drought indicators.” On the other hand, southern Wyoming experienced a “1-category degradation” due to a dry April.
Conditions in the upper Green River Basin also improved slightly, which may benefit water inflows to key Colorado River tributaries.
Regional Drought Snapshot.
As of May 6, 2025, drought severity across the seven Colorado River Basin states shows the following breakdown (based on percentage of area affected):
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Abnormally Dry to Exceptional Drought (D0-D4): 68.79%
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Moderate to Exceptional Drought (D1-D4): 50.03%
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Severe to Exceptional Drought (D2-D4): 30.04%
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Extreme to Exceptional Drought (D3-D4): 15.58%
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Exceptional Drought (D4): 1.23%
These figures indicate a slight overall improvement from the previous week, where 67.40% of the area was affected by some form of drought and 1.88% was classified under exceptional drought.
The Weather Outlook.
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6–10 day outlook, valid through May 17, suggests above-normal precipitation for much of the Western United States, including portions of the Colorado River Basin. It also forecasts below-normal temperatures in the region, which could aid in slowing soil evaporation and snowmelt loss.
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