Pattern Shift Coming But the Drought Isn't Going Anywhere
Storms and a welcome cool-down arrive this weekend. The bigger story? What a potentially record-setting El Niño means for Colorado's drought this winter.
Latest
What El Niño Actually Does to Colorado Winters, By the Numbers
A grid-point analysis of every El Niño winter back to 1951 tells a more specific Colorado story than "wetter and warmer." Part of it runs backward from what most coverage assumes.
Colorado Drought Update: Conditions Worsen Again in Early August
The latest Drought Monitor shows Colorado's drought footprint expanding again after a brief late-July improvement -- 99% of the state is now abnormally dry or worse.
NOAA's Latest El Niño Update: What It Means for Colorado This Winter
NOAA's August update raises the odds of a record-strength El Niño this fall — here's what that does, and doesn't, mean for Colorado.
Heat Breaks Mid-Week — But the Drought Story Is Far From Over
Extreme heat grips Colorado through Tuesday, then the monsoon arrives. The short-term relief is real — what comes after is the story worth watching.
Monsoon Relief Arrives — But the Drought Story Is Far From Over
Heavy rain and flash flood watches dominate Colorado mid-week, but the same ridge driving this summer's drought reasserts itself by the weekend. Here's what the next month looks like.
El Niño Is Strengthening Fast — Here's What That Means for Colorado's Winter
NOAA's latest update pushes the odds toward one of the strongest El Niño events on record. Here's what the forecast data shows for Colorado season by season — and why the payoff is still months away.
Colorado's Monsoon Outlook: A Slow Start Gives Way to a Wetter August and September
July opens dry and warm across Colorado, but the forecast data shows a real shift by late summer — here's what the monsoon signal looks like month by month, and who benefits most.
How Long Until Colorado Sees Real Drought and Fire Relief?
Between an active, dangerous fire season and a strengthening El Niño, Colorado is caught between two very different timelines. Here's a realistic look at when relief actually arrives — and when it doesn't.
Heat, Dry Lightning, and a Drought That Isn't Done
A significant heatwave builds into the weekend as dry thunderstorms raise fire ignition risk mid-week. The bigger story runs well beyond this week.
Fire Weather, Fourth of July Storms, and a Drought That Isn't Done
Critical fire conditions through Friday, storm risks on the 4th, and a gradual moisture return — but Colorado's drought story is far from over.
Colorado's Drought Gets Worse, Not Better, Heading Into Peak Summer
The latest Drought Monitor shows extreme and exceptional drought expanding again across Colorado this week. Here's where things stand — and why the real chance at relief is still months away.
Forecast
Fire Weather, Triple-Digit Heat, and a Drought That Isn't Done
Critical fire weather arrives Saturday and doesn't let up. Here's what the next week looks like — and why the pattern behind it matters all summer long.
Forecast
Fire Weather, Severe Storms, and a Pattern That Won't Let Go
Colorado faces a week of critical fire weather and severe thunderstorms — and the conditions driving both trace back to a drought that keeps deepening. Here's the full picture.
Long-Range
Colorado Summer Outlook 2026 — Warmer Than Normal, With a Monsoon Wildcard
El Niño is confirmed and already shaping Colorado's summer pattern. Above-normal temperatures are the high-confidence call. The precipitation story is more nuanced — and neither changes the drought outlook on its own.
Drought
Colorado Drought Update — June 2026: Conditions Hold as Summer Heat Builds
The brief improvement from May storms has stalled. Nearly all of Colorado remains in drought, and the DSCI is more than double last year's value. Here's where things stand and why summer won't change the trajectory.
Forecast
Heat Wave, Fire Weather, and a Drought That Isn't Going Away
Critical fire weather and near-100°F heat arrive Tuesday — but the bigger story is a drought that's only getting harder to break.
Drought
Colorado Drought Update: Week of June 2, 2026
A modest improvement in the most severe drought categories this week — but 99% of Colorado remains in drought, and the four-week outlook delivers no path to recovery.
Forecast
Storm Week in Colorado — Then the Drought Reasserts Itself
Severe storms arrive to open June, but the bigger story is what comes after: a drying pattern that keeps Colorado's historic drought firmly in place heading into summer.
Drought
Colorado Drought Update: Week of May 27, 2026
For the third straight week, Colorado's drought metrics improved at the margins — but 100% of the state remains in drought, and the long-game recovery depends on a winter story still months away.
Forecast
Fire Weather, Flash Floods, and a Drought That Isn't Done
An active storm pattern brings flash flood and severe weather threats this week — but the bigger story is what follows: a dry, fire-prone summer and a water crisis still deepening.
Forecast
May Storm Brings Freeze Risk and Fire Danger
A late-season punch of snow, freezing temperatures, and extreme fire danger arrives this week — but the pattern potentially turns warm and dry again by month's end.
Forecast
Fire Weather Today, Pattern Shift This Weekend — But the Drought Runs Deeper
Red flag conditions are burning across Colorado today, but a cooler, wetter pattern arrives this weekend. The bigger story is what neither can fix.
Long-Range
Seasonal Forecast Maps — May 2026 | Weather Insider
Welcome to the May 2026 seasonal forecast map pack — your Weather Insider benefit.