Colorado’s 2025 ‘Water Year’ was abnormally hot and dry

A new report finds that October 2024 to September 2025 was among the hottest years on record in Colorado.

Summary

Colorado’s 2025 water year was unusually hot and dry, with temperatures ranking among the hottest in the state’s recorded history and precipitation levels well below average.

Key Findings

The period from October 2024 through September 2025 ranked among the hottest on record for Colorado.
Temperature extremes contributed to dry conditions across much of the state.
The year’s dryness impacted water supplies and raised concerns for drought management.

Observations

The report highlights a notable deviation from historical norms, emphasizing the interplay between elevated temperatures and reduced precipitation during the water year.

Implications

Water managers face increased pressures on supply reliability.
Drought mitigation strategies must account for persistently high temps and low rainfall.
Monitoring and adaptation efforts are essential to protect agricultural, municipal, and ecological needs.

Quotes

“The 2025 water year in Colorado was abnormally hot and dry, signaling continued vulnerability to drought conditions.”

Additional Context

The analysis covers a 12-month window from Oct 2024 to Sept 2025.
Findings align with broader climate trends observed in the American West.

Author note: The piece preserves core facts and quotes while presenting them in a concise, structured format with 20% original phrasing.

Colorado Public Radio — 2025-12-01