Climatologists no longer consider the Denver metro to be suffering from drought conditions, instead the area’s now considered “abnormally dry.”

The change shows a significant improvement over conditions in December, during which Denver was considered to be swathed in an “extreme drought,” data collected by the National Drought Mitigation Center shows.

While the improvement around Denver is reflected this week around much of the rest of Colorado, more than 80% of the state’s land is still in what is considered to be a “moderate drought,” the data indicates. Climatologists repeatedly said this winter that the state needed consistent, above-average snowfall to recoup lost moisture and that didn’t happen.

Other areas, like those around Grand Junction and most of Pitkin County are also now considered to be abnormally dry, the data shows. Swathes of extreme and “exceptional” drought still cover large portions of Colorado’s southern counties.

Experts have kept a close eye on drought and snowpack conditions across the state because they directly influence water supply along the already parched Colorado River and ultimately translate into dry summer conditions that can exacerbate wildfire conditions.

Opportunities still exist for more snowfall or even rain to fall and make up for that moisture deficit but in the coming days the weather around Denver is expected to be not only dry but also warm, with high temperatures easily in the mid- to high-70s.

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