Cotton fluff, which has been prevalent in the Animas Valley, also ignites easily. “Right now, we monitor those weather conditions on a daily basis, and try to look a couple days, sometimes weeks, into the future.”Įspecially combustible fuels include cheatgrass and other tall grasses. “It is always a concern of us when it’s dry,” Hanks said. Hanks said unnecessary use of fire should be avoided and that people should be cognizant of potential fuels around them during dry spells.Ĭhain saws and lawn mowers are also a concern during dry weather, because they can create sparks if they come into contact with rocks, which could start fires. He said lightning is the major concern with the abnormally dry drought conditions.ĭurango Fire Protection District Fire Marshal Karola Hanks said there haven’t been many fires started by lightning this summer, but it is something fire teams are always evaluating.Īs of Wednesday, La Plata County was in stage one fire restrictions. Aleksa said he is optimistic about the region’s drought conditions despite an extremely dry July. Overall, Southwest Colorado’s drought outlook has been positive with the San Juan Mountains snowpack reaching 170% above normal this past winter. Temperatures are predicted to drop into the 80s next week, which is another indicator that moisture could be on its way. The NWS seven-day forecast indicates a 50% chance of rain on Saturday with showers also likely on Sunday. He said monsoonal moisture is looking more likely in early August. National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Aleksa said Southwest Colorado could easily be relieved of its abnormally dry drought status with a couple of substantial storms. Rainfall since June 1 is an inch below average in Durango, putting the city into an “abnormally dry” status.
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