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Pueblo County drought today

The U.S. Drought Monitor's category for Pueblo County, Colorado (FIPS 08101), 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 worse57.9%of the county's area in severe, extreme or exceptional droughtU.S. Drought Monitor, map valid Sep 29, 2026
Since last weekNo changemap 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
57.9%57.9%
D3
Extreme drought or worse
25.7%25.7%
D4
Exceptional drought
0%0%

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

What it means for water users

Pueblo County is in D3 extreme drought: 25.7% of its area is in extreme drought or worse, conditions around the 2nd–5th percentile of the record.

By category alone this week: 42.1% D1, 32.2% D2 and 25.7% D3. About 1,381 of its 2,387 square miles are in D2 or worse.

Against the map of Sep 22, 2026, the category is unchanged at D3, with the same share in D2 or worse (57.9%).

D2 or worse on the last 4 maps: 58% (Sep 8, 2026), 57.9% (Sep 15, 2026), 57.9% (Sep 22, 2026) and 57.9% (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

Pueblo County lies in Division 2, the Arkansas basin. Water there is administered by priority: see the basin's active calls and snowpack.

Nearby

Nearest stream gauges: St. Charles River at Vineland (6 mi), Arkansas River near Avondale (8 mi), Arkansas River Tributary above Highway 227 at Pueblo (9 mi) and Arkansas River at Moffat Street at Pueblo (9 mi).

Nearby counties this week: Crowley County (D1), Huerfano County (D4, D2+ 100%), Otero County (D1, D2+ 3.9%) and El Paso County (D4, D2+ 80.1%).

More

Sources

  1. U.S. Drought Monitor