- Heavy rain eased drought in parts of the Southeast and High Plains.
- Dry, hot weather worsened drought in Rockies and Southwest.
- Severe to extreme drought expanded in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming.
Saturday, August 9, 2025 — The latest U.S. Drought Monitor, released August 7, 2025
, showed a week of sharp contrasts. Heavy rainfall brought significant improvement to parts of the Southeast, lower Great Lakes, and the central and northern Great Plains. However, persistent heat, low humidity, and limited rainfall deepened drought in the central and northern Rockies and the Southwest. New areas of abnormal dryness also appeared in sections of the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys, as well as along the western foothills of the Appalachians.
The Colorado River Basin in Focus.
Arizona.
Much of northeastern Arizona experienced worsening conditions as subnormal monsoon rains continued. Moderate to severe drought now covers broad areas, with some eastern sections mirroring the dry, hot conditions seen in neighboring Utah and Colorado.
California.
California remained relatively stable this week, with no major drought expansions reported. However, areas in the interior and desert regions remain vulnerable, especially if late-summer precipitation falls short.
Colorado.
Western Colorado saw severe drought expand, particularly in west-central and northwestern areas, where extreme drought is now present. Hot, dry, and windy conditions have intensified moisture loss, leaving about one-third of the state’s subsoil moisture rated short or very short. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported 17 percent of Colorado’s corn crop in poor or very poor condition.
Nevada.
Eastern Nevada continued to suffer from low rainfall, and drought conditions persisted. Severe drought spans large areas, with extreme drought in the east-central region. Rangeland quality remains a concern.
New Mexico.
Heavy rainfall in northeastern New Mexico helped improve some drought classifications, but exceptional drought still lingers in the southwest, and extreme drought remains in parts of the north-central and southwest regions. While the southeast corner of the state emerged from drought entirely, much of New Mexico continues to face moderate to severe dryness.
Utah.
Nearly the entire state is under drought, with widespread severe drought and expanding areas of extreme drought in the east-central and northeastern regions. Conditions here are similar to those in western Colorado and Wyoming, driven by limited rainfall and prolonged heat.
Wyoming.
Southern and western Wyoming remain locked in severe drought, with significant areas in the southwest worsening over the past week. USDA data shows two-thirds of Wyoming’s subsoil moisture is short or very short, stressing both crops and rangeland.
The Outlook.
From August 7–11, scattered rainfall is expected in parts of the central and northern Plains, Gulf Coast, and the Southeast, but much of the Colorado River Basin will see only light precipitation, if any. Temperatures in most of the region are forecast to remain above normal, which could intensify moisture loss in already dry areas.
The Climate Prediction Center’s August 12–16 outlook shows a slight tilt toward drier-than-normal conditions for the Great Basin and parts of the Rockies, with above-normal temperatures likely across much of the West.
