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Moffat County drought today

The U.S. Drought Monitor's category for Moffat County, Colorado (FIPS 08081), the share of its area in each category, and what it means for water users.

Figures as of · Advisory only — confirm water rights with Colorado DWR.

CategoryD3Extreme drought; the most severe category covering at least 5% of the countyU.S. Drought Monitor, map valid Sep 29, 2026
D2 or worse47.7%of the county's area in severe, extreme or exceptional droughtU.S. Drought Monitor, map valid Sep 29, 2026
Since last weekNo changeD2 or worse: 95.4% → 47.7% · map of Sep 22, 2026U.S. Drought Monitor, map valid Sep 29, 2026

Area by category

CategoryThis weekWeek before
No category
No drought
0%0%
D0
Abnormally dry or worse
100%100%
D1
Moderate drought or worse
100%100%
D2
Severe drought or worse
47.7%95.4%
D3
Extreme drought or worse
6.5%6.5%
D4
Exceptional drought
0%0%

Cumulative, as the Monitor reports them: each row includes the rows below it.

What it means for water users

Moffat County is in D3 extreme drought: 6.5% of its area is in extreme drought or worse, conditions around the 2nd–5th percentile of the record.

By category alone this week: 52.3% D1, 41.2% D2 and 6.5% D3. About 2,263 of its 4,743 square miles are in D2 or worse.

Against the map of Sep 22, 2026, the category is unchanged at D3, and the share in D2 or worse went from 95.4% to 47.7%.

D2 or worse on the last 4 maps: 100% (Sep 8, 2026), 100% (Sep 15, 2026), 95.4% (Sep 22, 2026) and 47.7% (Sep 29, 2026).

USDA uses the Monitor to trigger drought disaster designations; the county FSA office confirms what applies.

It is not water administration: calls on its streams depend on streamflow and priority, not on this category.

Where its water is administered

Moffat County lies in Division 6, the Yampa-White-Green basin. Water there is administered by priority: see the basin's active calls and snowpack.

Nearby

Nearest stream gauges: Little Snake River near Lily (12 mi), Yampa River near Maybell (12 mi), Yampa River at Deerlodge Park (20 mi) and Yellow Creek near White River (32 mi).

Nearby counties this week: Rio Blanco County (D3, D2+ 99.2%), Routt County (D4, D2+ 100%), Garfield County (D3, D2+ 100%) and Jackson County (D3, D2+ 53.4%).

More

Sources

  1. U.S. Drought Monitor