'Exceptional' Drought Rating Lifted In Southeastern Colorado

EADS, Colo. (AP) - Parts of Colorado are still very dry but the state no longer has any areas with the most severe drought conditions.

A ring of what's labeled as exceptional drought has persisted around a bull's-eye of dry conditions in southeastern Colorado but it was erased in the latest edition of the U.S. Drought Monitor, released Thursday. The entire bull's-eye that covers parts of Crowley, Bent, Otero and Kiowa counties is now rated as being in extreme drought, the second worst ranking.

The slight upgrade comes after another round of rain, with between a half inch and 2 inches falling last week.

The southwestern tip of Colorado is also rated as being in extreme drought. About 60 percent of the state is now considered drought free.

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