January 2026 began with a drought that persisted through 2025. Signs were already apparent last winter, which saw the lowest average snowpack in a decade. Despite rains in September and October, for much of last year, all of Colorado was experiencing drought conditions.
Both November and December saw less precipitation than average, and warmer temperatures statewide. In December, much of the Western Slope accumulated between 1 and 2.5 inches less precipitation than usual. As of Dec. 31, the entire Western Slope remained dry, with most of Eagle and Pitkin counties classified under “extreme” or “exceptional” drought conditions, and the majority of Garfield County as “moderate” to “severe.”
On Dec. 31, Roaring Fork Conservancy reported the snowpack in the Roaring Fork Watershed at 53% of normal. Nine local SNOTEL sites measured snowpack-water-equivalent (SWE) increases in the last week of the year, varying between 0.2 and 1.9 inches. Rivers and streams in the watershed were measured as flowing 55-77% of normal.
As of Jan. 6, snowpack remains below average, despite Jan. 5 precipitation that yielded 12 inches of new snow on Aspen Highlands and Snowmass ski resorts. The new snowfall brought the snowpack up to 62% of normal — “normal” being based on documented history. Notably, the Roaring Fork Watershed is experiencing the worst drought conditions in Colorado.
The state briefly dropped out of drought status in 2023, following an above-average winter, but returned to dry conditions that summer. Between 40-60% of the state has remained in a drought ever since. Tracking by the Natural Resources Conservation Service indicated that Colorado’s SWE from October 2025 to present is within 20% of the lowest levels in documented history.
Low precipitation coincides with various impacts to the ecosystem and recreation. Sunlight Ski Resort has only opened a fraction of its terrain on one of three lifts. The higher-elevation Aspen Ski Co mountains have more terrain open, from 42% on Snowmass to 90% on Aspen Highlands, but conditions remain unstable and subject to change.
The Spring Gulch nordic trail system outside Carbondale has kept its upper trails open, but has not seen enough snow to groom the majority of its 28-kilometer system. The Aspen Snowmass trails span up to 60 miles, typically. This winter, the only sections of the upvalley trail system that have remained open are the six-kilometer Aspen High School trail and the privately maintained Maroon Creek Road. The crosscountry ski trails that are open mostly lack classic tracks due to low snowpack. Aspen’s annual Cross Country Ski Extravaganza, previously scheduled for Jan. 11, was canceled.
Colorado meteorologists expressed skepticism as to whether snowpack averages will recover as winter progresses. OpenSnow founder Joel Gratz described the current snowpack as “near record low.” He predicted that “we’re going to stay near the bottom of the barrel for the foreseeable future,” despite upcoming weather systems.
National Weather Service meteorologist Maggie Ideker suggested it’s possible snowpack could recover, depending on how many and how heavy of storms occur in coming months. “Really, it’s going to take about two to three good snowstorms in order for us to get back to normal,” she stated.
December 2025 temperatures were 10-11 degrees warmer than average in Colorado. January 2026 has so far followed a similar trend, with daytime temperatures often above freezing and sometimes 20-30 degrees above average. Recorded historical averages in the Roaring Fork Valley show daytime temperatures in the 20s and 30s and nighttime temperatures in the low teens to single digits.
The National Weather Service issues bimonthly drought outlook predictions. Its Dec. 31 forecast, for Jan. 1 through March 31, anticipated that the drought will persist throughout Western Colorado. Its next forecast will be issued on Jan. 15, following an expected weather system.