One-third of Colorado under moderate drought conditions as officials wary of wildfires, flooding.
DENVER – More than one-third of Colorado is experiencing moderate drought conditions, and more than half the state is abnormally dry as we enter Flood Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week in Colorado.
A year ago, 86 percent of the state was experiencing no drought conditions.
The dry weather has led to more than a dozen fires across the Front Range in the past two months, and comes ahead of the normal fire and flood season.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that 65,000 homes and 15,000 commercial and business buildings sit within Colorado’s floodplains.
In 2013, heavy rain along the Front Range combined with rain in northeastern Colorado led to heavy and devastating flash flooding along the Front Range from Greeley south, resulting in millions of dollars in damage.
All week, the National Weather Service and Colorado agencies are working to heighten awareness for fires and flooding across the state with Flood Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week.
Preparedness is key to staying safe!
#beready #cowx pic.twitter.com/8bxo2bL2F0 — NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) March 13, 2017 ——— Sign up for Denver7 email alerts to stay informed about breaking news and daily headlines.
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