The Arkansas River Basin Region is now in the driest and warmest period in its 131-year recorded weather history. But you donāt need to study meteorological data to see the very early signs of a dry spring. Flocks of Rocky Mountain Bluebirds and Meadow Larks have been spotted on the Valley floor, weeks before they normally return, and grass is greening on southern-facing slopes.
An interesting report from the Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative, penned by Cecilia Timberg, showed that āWater Year 2026 is approximately 5Ā°F warmer than the 1991ā2020 average and 1.7Ā°F warmer than the previous record set in 2018, according to Russ Schumacher, professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University and the state climatologist.ā For Custer and Fremont Counties, February was the warmest on record.
The only positive news is that Fremont and most of Custer County are either not in a drought or in abnormally dry conditions based on soil moisture content. The snowpack in the Sangre de Cristos is the 7th lowest on record. But if snow does not arrive soon, it could be the worst snowpack on record.
This dry weather, combined with days of gusty winds, has prompted the Sheriffs in Custer and Fremont Counties to place both counties under Stage 1 Fire restrictions. What this means is that the region’s vegetation is dry enough to catch fire from flames, sparks, or even a hot muffler on dry grass. Last week, a car caught fire while driving north of Westcliffe on Highway 69, prompting a grass fire to quickly spread in the ditch. Unnervingly, this incident happened next to the large Norup propane company. Thankfully, the Wet Mountain Fire Department made short work of the flames before they could spread beyond the ditch. Stage 1 bans have no open burning unless in constructed fire grates. No welding in areas with dry vegetation. And no internal combustion engines without spark arrestors. Also, be careful with vehicles on dry grass and chains from trailers dragging on roads.
ā Jordan Hedberg
