Below is the Precipitation Accumulation in South Platte graph from the NRCS for August 10, 2026. This morning precipitation is at 73% of the median (down 2% one week), and 66% of the water year median (no change one week). There are 51 days left in the water year.
Weather.gov is returning an error this morning. The weather app on my iMac shows chances for precipitation from today through Sunday in the northern and central mountains. It shows chances for precipitation Wednesday through Sunday, down here about 330 miles from Telluride where Butch Cassidy and three other men robbed a Telluride, Colorado bank on June 24, 1889. From the Library of Congress:
This robbery is the first major crime attributed to Cassidy, who would go on to become a notorious bank and train robber, become the leader of the “Wild Bunch” gang, and inspire legends for years to come. Read more about it!…June 24, 1889, Butch Cassidy (Robert LeRoy Parker) and three others rob a bank in Telluride, Colorado. It is the first major robbery attributed to Cassidy…September 17, 1896, Cassidy and the “Wild Bunch” rob a bank in Montpelier, Idaho. In the succeeding years, the outlaws commit several other robberies throughout the Southwestern United States…June 1900, Cassidy considers an amnesty agreement with the governor of Utah, but ultimately does not turn himself in. Soon after, the “Wild Bunch” disbands, but reports of Cassidy continue to surface in the U.S. and South America throughout the early twentieth century.
Here’s a look at the 7-Day Colorado precipitation map through August 9, 2026 from the High Plains Regional Climate Center. Precipitation in the South Platte Basin along the Continental Divide of the Americas ranged from 0.00” to 0.05”.
Here’s the 7-Day percent of normal precipitation map through August 9, 2026 from the High Plains Regional Climate Center. Precipitation in the South Platte River Basin along the Continental Divide of the Americas was 0% of normal.
Below is the 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast for the week of August 3, 2026. Precipitation is anticipated for the mountains of the South Platte River Basin and may total up to 4.00″. Viva North American Monsoon!
Below are the 8-14 day outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center, issued August 9, 2026, for temperature and precipitation, for the week starting August 17, 2026. The CPC expects above normal temperatures and above normal precipitation for the mountains of the South Platte River Basin.
Below is the Colorado Drought Monitor map from August 4, 2026. There were one class degradations in Douglas, Arapahoe, Adams, Denver, Morgan, Weld, and Larimer counties. Drought and abnormal dryness covers 97.29% of Colorado. The South Platte Basin is experiencing Abnormally Dry, Moderate, Severe, Extreme, and Exceptional drought conditions.
Below is the Colorado Drought Monitor one week change map ending August 4, 2026.
Here’s the US Drought Monitor Map from last week along with the one week U.S. change map.
Finally, here’s a rundown of the mix of renewable energy vs. other sources for May 2026, from Jonathan P. Thompson and The Land Desk. Good news! The energy transition persists, in spite of President Trump: #Solar is gaining ground on Western states’ grids. From the article:
It’s safe to say that the Trump administration has been waging a war on solar and wind energy, both to spite its political adversaries and to bolster the fossil fuel industries…The data show, however, that Trump’s war on clean energy isn’t going much better than the fight he picked with Iran. For one thing, courts keep slapping down many of his initiatives because, well, they’re illegal. More than that, though, solar and wind generation are making big gains on many state’s electrical grids and, in some cases, are outpacing both coal and natural gas generation, even in fossil fuel strongholds.
