Drought Perspectives

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Drought Perspectives

• Nolan Doesken and Roger Pielke, Sr.
• Colorado Climate Center
• Prepared by Tara Green and Odie Bliss
• http//climate.atmos.colostate.edu

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Fort Collins Summer Average Temperature(June -
August)
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Fort Collins Historic Precipitation
1890 through 2002
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Sedgewick 5S Historic Precipitation
1960-2002
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Grand Lake 1NW Historic Precipitation
1941-2002
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Through 1999
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Through 1999
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Reservoir Storage
Provisional Data Provided by NRCS
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What Comes Next?
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?
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Monthly Average Precipitation for Selected Sites
in the South Platte Basin
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Monthly Average Precipitation for Selected Sites
in the South Platte Basin
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What Happens Next

• We have never experienced 2 consecutive extreme
  statewide drought years.
• Past multi-year drought, characterized by one
  extreme year preceded and followed by other dry
  year.
• Entire Region rarely all recovers quickly and at
  the same time.
• Hope for the best, plan for the worst!!

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Positive Indicators

• Late winter snows
• Cool spring
• Multi-day precipitation
• Wet Snow
• Low intensity rainfall
• Light winds
• High humidity
• Abundant cloud cover

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Negative Indicators

• Little late winter snow
• Missed opportunities
• Warm spring
• Brief, sporadic precipitation
• High intensity rainfall
• Frequent, strong winds
• Low humidity
• Abundant sunshine

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Joe Wright Water YearSnotel 2002
NWCC http//www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/site-wyg
raph-multi.pl?stateCO
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Joe Wright Water YearSnotel 2003
NWCC http//www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/site-wyg
raph-multi.pl?stateCO
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Bear Lake Water YearSnotel 2002
NWCC http//www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/site-wyg
raph-multi.pl?stateCO
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Bear Lake Water YearSnotel 2003
NWCC http//www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/site-wyg
raph-multi.pl?stateCO
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Lake Irene Water YearSnotel 2002
NWCC http//www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/site-wyg
raph-multi.pl?stateCO
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Lake Irene Water YearSnotel 2003
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COAGMETWeather Data for Agriculture

• Automated weather stations with daily and hourly
  readings of
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Wind
• Precipitation
• Solar energy
• Evapotranspiration
• http//www.COAGMET.com

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Colorado Climate CenterColorado State University

• Data and Power Point Presentations available for
  downloading
• http//climate.atmos.colostate.edu
• click on Drought
• then click on Presentations

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CoCo RaHSYOU CAN HELP!
http//www.cocorahs.com