2008 is 4th driest ever for Denver

DENVER — The National Weather Service says this year is the fourth driest on record for Denver so far.

From January until now only 3.26 inches of precipitation have fallen at Denver International Airport. That’s less than half an inch behind the driest period between January and July — 1930. Records have been kept since 1872.

Conditions are more dire in southern Colorado, especially the southeastern plains.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, much of Baca County and the southeastern part of Prowers County have extreme to exceptional drought conditions. Drought conditions are considered severe in the eastern parts of Kiowa, Bent and Las Animas counties.

The Weather Service says soil moisture on the southeast plains is between 40 to 80 percent of normal. Soil moisture in the mountains and high valleys, which benefitted from plenty of snow this winter, is near average.