Drought in Colorado, July 1 to 31, 2002

Name: Drought in Colorado, July 1 to 31, 2002
Start: 2002-07-01T00:00
End: 2002-07-31T23:59
Location: Colorado

July 1 to 31, 2002 · NWS PUB · 24 events in 24 counties and zones

A long term drought, which began to affect Colorado in earnest in May, continued through July. Conditions were described as severe to extreme during May, June, and through July.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 24 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 24

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.

A long term drought, which began to affect Colorado in earnest in May, continued through July. Conditions were described as severe to extreme during May, June, and through July. Snow pack had essentially melted by early May. Streams and rivers were flowing a very low levels, if at all. The affect on agricultural interests and recreation (rafting and kayaking) increased into and through July. The threat for major wildfires continued, but windy conditions subsided and some rain fell in July. Water conservation measures were implemented in nearly all communities in the area in June, and continued through July.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Pueblo, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 30, 12:56 PM MST, 11 hours 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 30, 12:56 PM MST, 11 hours 4 minutes before

SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO COLORADO
156 PM MDT SUN JUN 30 2002

...CORRECTED RECORD INFORMATION TODAY...

CURRENT...HOT DAY TODAY...TIED A RECORD HIGH OF 103 SO FAR IN
PUEBLO. CONVECTION TRYING TO BREAK OUT OVER EXTREME SOUTHERN SANGRES
AND ALONG CONVERGENCE LINE IN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY. THINK ACTIVITY WILL
BE SPARSE AT BEST WITH WARM CAPPED ATMOSPHERE AND LOW CAPES.

MONDAY/TUESDAY...RAISED BOTH HIGH TEMPS AND LOW TEMPS A SMIDGE
ACROSS THE BOARD...AS 700 MB TEMPS PEAK MONDAY AT 16-20 C THEN COOL
ONLY SLIGHTLY FOR TUESDAY. WILL KEEP DIURNAL POPS...AS SYSTEM MOVING
INTO TEXAS PROGGED TO REMAIN TO OUR EAST...WITH LEE TROF TO KEEP
LOW LEVEL MOISTURE OUT OF PLAINS TOMORROW. EXPECT EXTREMELY ISOLATED
ACTIVITY OVER MTNS AND ADJACENT PLAINS...WITH 500 MB TEMPS AT -6C AND
NO LARGE SCALE SYNOPTIC LIFT TO SPEAK OF. NEXT FRONTAL BOUNDARY
TUESDAY BRINGS MAINLY A WINDSHIFT TO UPSLOPE. 850MB WINDS TURN
SOUTH/SOUTHEAST LATER TUESDAY AFTER WIND SHIFT...AND BEGIN TO TAP
INTO LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FROM TEXAS SYSTEM. THETA E VALUES INCREASE
LATE TUESDAY. AVN STILL GENERATING SOME KIND OF FEEDBACK OVER THE
MOUNTAINS TUESDAY LATE. THINK ITS RESPONDING TO INCREASED/POOLING OF
LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND LOW TERRAIN RESOLUTION.

WEDNESDAY...SUBTROPICAL LOW PROGGED TO BE OVER TX/OK PANHANDLES...
WITH ASSOCIATED VORTICITY STILL JUST EAST OF CWA IN KANSAS. LOW LEVEL
MOISTURE CONTINUES TO INCREASE...AND TEMPS BEGIN TO COOL IN
RESPONSE TO 11-12C AT 700MB. WENT SLIGHT CHANCE POPS ALL AREAS ALL
DAY...BECOMING CHANCE OVERNIGHT.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...TROF MOVES OVER COLORADO...OPENS UP AND JOINS
NORTHERN FLOW...LEAVING CWA IN AREA OF GENERAL DYNAMIC LIFT AND
INCREASED LOW LEVEL MOISTURE. TROF THEN BEGINS TO RIDE UP RIDGE WHICH
HAD BEEN PUSHED EASTWARD INTO THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. WENT
CHANCE POPS ALL TIMES ALL ZONES FOR THIS SCENARIO.

LONG AND SHORT IS THAT PATTERN IS QUITE UNSETTLED AND UNCERTAIN...
RELYING ON MODELS TO HANDLE BOTH A SUBTROPICAL SYSTEM MOVING ONSHORE
IN THE SOUTH AND A CUTOFF LOW MOVING ONSHORE THE WEST COAST. THERES
NO STRONG JET TO SCOUR OUT/MOVE SOUTHERN SYSTEM THOUGH...SO GENERAL
TREND WAS TO GO CHANCE POPS THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY AS MOISTURE
INCREASES AND SYSTEM MOVES IN/OVER THE CWA...THEN SLIGHT CHANCE
AFTERWARD WITH NO TIMERS (ALL DAY) AS SYSTEM MAY LIFT NORTHEAST AND
BACK OVER THE AREA. KEPT SLIGHTLY COOLER/NEAR CLIMO TEMPS.

.PUB...NONE.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

24 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Alamosa County/Alamosa and Vicinity / Alamosa / E Rio Grande

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Alamosa County/Alamosa and Vicinity / Alamosa / E Rio Grande forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 38.747, -106.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Baca County/Springfield and Vicinity

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Baca County/Springfield and Vicinity forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 38.729, -105.043 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Bent County/Las Animas and Vicinity

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Bent County/Las Animas and Vicinity forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 38.110, -105.070 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Crowley and Otero Counties/La Junta and Vicinity

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Crowley and Otero Counties/La Junta and Vicinity forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 38.473, -105.440 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Eastern Las Animas County / E Las Animas / Ne Huerfano

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Eastern Las Animas County / E Las Animas / Ne Huerfano forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 38.473, -105.440 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Eastern San Juan Mountains / Mineral / W Rio Grande / W Conejos

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Eastern San Juan Mountains / Mineral / W Rio Grande / W Conejos forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 38.747, -106.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Kiowa County

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Kiowa County forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.897, -105.164 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, La Garita Mountains / W Sanguache

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: La Garita Mountains / W Sanguache forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 38.677, -106.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Leadville and Vicinity

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Leadville and Vicinity forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 39.202, -106.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.992, -105.637 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northern San Luis Valley/Del Norte and Vicinity / E Sanguache Except X E / N Rio Grande

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Northern San Luis Valley/Del Norte and Vicinity / E Sanguache Except X E / N Rio Grande forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 38.747, -106.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains / X Sw Fremont / X E Sanguache / W Custer / W Huerfano / X N Costilla

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains / X Sw Fremont / X E Sanguache / W Custer / W Huerfano / X N Costilla forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.832, -106.332 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Prowers County/Lamar and Vicinity

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Prowers County/Lamar and Vicinity forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.989, -104.947 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Pueblo and Eastern Fremont Counties/Pueblo and Vicinity

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Pueblo and Eastern Fremont Counties/Pueblo and Vicinity forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.867, -105.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southern El Paso County/Colorado Springs and Vicinity

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Southern El Paso County/Colorado Springs and Vicinity forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.240, -105.810 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southern San Luis Valley / E Conejos / W Costilla

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Southern San Luis Valley / E Conejos / W Costilla forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 38.081, -106.282 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains / E Costilla / Sw Huerfano / X Sw Las Animas

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains / E Costilla / Sw Huerfano / X Sw Las Animas forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.778, -106.530 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Teller County/Rampart Range/Pikes Peak / Teller / W El Paso

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Teller County/Rampart Range/Pikes Peak / Teller / W El Paso forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.484, -106.500 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Upper Arkansas River Valley/Salida and Vicinity / E Chaffee

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Upper Arkansas River Valley/Salida and Vicinity / E Chaffee forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.832, -106.332 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Upper Huerfano River Basin/Walsenburg and Vicinity / Nc to Sc Huerfano

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Upper Huerfano River Basin/Walsenburg and Vicinity / Nc to Sc Huerfano forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.426, -104.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Upper Purgatoire River Basin/Trinidad and Vicinity / Sw Las Animas Except X Sw

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Upper Purgatoire River Basin/Trinidad and Vicinity / Sw Las Animas Except X Sw forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.426, -104.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, W Lake / W Chaffee County

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: W Lake / W Chaffee County forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 39.202, -106.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Western Fremont and Northern Custer Counties

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Western Fremont and Northern Custer Counties forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.484, -106.500 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wet Mountains / E Custer / X Sw Pueblo / X N Huerfano / Part Se Fremont

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST to July 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Wet Mountains / E Custer / X Sw Pueblo / X N Huerfano / Part Se Fremont forecast zone
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.578, -106.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Colorado in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Colorado, July 2002

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5307649, 5307650, 5307651, 5307652, 5307653, 5307654, 5307655, 5307656, 5307657, 5307658, 5307659, 5307660, 5307661, 5307662, 5307663, 5307664, 5307665, 5307666, 5307667, 5307668, 5307669, 5307670, 5307671, 5307672.