March is make-or-break month for Colorado drought

DENVER (AP) -- March is a make-or-break month for relieving drought conditions in Colorado.

State climatologist Nolan Doesken says a series of snow storms or one monster blizzard, like the one in 2003, would go a long way to improve conditions along the Front Range and Eastern Plains.

The month is traditionally a wet one. But last year the state dried out during an extremely dry and warm March, which also marked the start of a deadly wildfire season.

April and May often bring rain and snow too. Doesken says March precipitation is key because the normally cooler weather helps moisture penetrate the ground and slows evaporation.

Doesken said this week's series of storms benefited any areas that got at least 7 inches of snow, the equivalent of about a ½ inch of water.