So you think that 5 inches of snow in central Denver a week ago lets the Front Range off the hook for a worrisome urban and suburban winter drought?
Colorado water and plant experts have some numbers for you, and some advice about what to do next.
The Fort Collins area exceeded the 30-year daily average temperature in December by 11.2 degrees. This shattered a nearly century-old monthly record by what climatology world sees as a whopping 3.1 degrees. Only 6.7 inches of snow had fallen at Denver Botanic Gardens’ York Street for the 2025-26 winter season by Jan. 1, way below the average seasonal accumulation for that date of 20 inches. Xcel Energy will likely preemptively cut off power Friday in parts of Larimer and Weld counties because of the possibility of extreme wildfire danger, elevated by wind, drought and higher-than-normal temperatures. December is the new March for parts of Colorado, according to the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University. December’s average temperatures in Fort Collins were just a tenth of a degree lower than the 30-year average for March. Total 2025 precipitation in central Denver at the gardens was 12.06 inches, the second-driest year since 2007, following only notorious 2020. Only .05 inches fell on the rock garden measuring device in November.With Front Range forecasts set for upper 50s and sunny for much of the next week, your grass will once again be deteriorating to a vague yellow powder, and your shrubs and trees will be straining to find any moisture they can in depleted soil.
“Even though we got a little snow, we are still far behind average snowfall and penetrating precipitation,” said Denver Botanic Gardens spokesperson Erin Bird, passing on advice from Phil Douglas, director of horticulture and the center for global initiatives. “Since it warmed up so quickly, much of the snow evaporated before it could penetrate into the soil.”
Quick check-ins with the Botanic Gardens, Boulder’s city forester, Denver Water and climatologists deliver the following home action plan:
When temperatures rise above 40 degrees, water your trees and shrubs.
One rule of thumb suggests replicating 1 inch of rainfall for your trees and shrubs, easily measured by the water level in small containers placed under the watering area. The Boulder forester suggests another standard of 15 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter. Deep watering is good, to encourage deeper root growth for future dry months. But shallower watering is also encouraged, under the whole canopy or “drip line” of a tree — think “the area that would be hit by drips from all the branches.” The root system extends across that entire canopy. If things remain dry on the Front Range, watering once or twice a month will help preserve your plants. This can include giving your dormant lawn a drink, too, but remember to detach hoses from outdoor faucets before the next big freeze. Use a couple of inches of mulch around tree trunks to help retain moisture, but stop the mulch an inch or so away from the trunk itself.Hence then, the article about yes the front range is extremely dry and warm this winter here s what you should do was published today ( ) and is available on Colorado Sun ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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