Drought Risk in Colorado
All Colorado counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index drought score
Drought risk — extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture — is rated for 54 of 64 Colorado counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Baca County carries the state's highest drought score at 96.9, with $2M in expected annual drought losses.
4 Colorado counties are rated High or Very High for drought, and expected annual losses from drought total roughly $22M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Drought
| # | County | Drought Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baca County | High | 138.14 / yr | $2M | |
| 2 | Prowers County | High | 92.05 / yr | $2M | |
| 3 | Rio Grande County | High | 75.34 / yr | $1M | |
| 4 | Alamosa County | High | 72.96 / yr | $1M | |
| 5 | Logan County | Medium | 52.93 / yr | $1M | |
| 6 | Otero County | Medium | 95.55 / yr | $1M | |
| 7 | Phillips County | Medium | 63.04 / yr | $2M | |
| 8 | Sedgwick County | Medium | 78.70 / yr | $1M | |
| 9 | Saguache County | Medium | 87.19 / yr | $1M | |
| 10 | Kiowa County | Medium | 117.78 / yr | $1M | |
| 11 | Conejos County | Medium | 82.88 / yr | $471K | |
| 12 | Cheyenne County | Medium | 84.24 / yr | $784K | |
| 13 | Mesa County | Medium | 91.86 / yr | $656K | |
| 14 | Montezuma County | Medium | 86.31 / yr | $495K | |
| 15 | Costilla County | Medium | 95.43 / yr | $296K | |
| 16 | Delta County | Medium | 67.69 / yr | $415K | |
| 17 | Bent County | Medium | 119.30 / yr | $541K | |
| 18 | Adams County | Low | 25.62 / yr | $470K | |
| 19 | Lincoln County | Low | 84.71 / yr | $408K | |
| 20 | Pueblo County | Low | 78.88 / yr | $261K | |
| 21 | Montrose County | Low | 82.30 / yr | $254K | |
| 22 | Yuma County | Low | 57.17 / yr | $211K | |
| 23 | Las Animas County | Low | 134.78 / yr | $115K | |
| 24 | Larimer County | Low | 18.06 / yr | $182K | |
| 25 | La Plata County | Low | 68.14 / yr | $142K | |
| 26 | Washington County | Low | 52.97 / yr | $95K | |
| 27 | Dolores County | Low | 94.22 / yr | $89K | |
| 28 | Arapahoe County | Low | 28.81 / yr | $118K | |
| 29 | El Paso County | Low | 47.54 / yr | $140K | |
| 30 | Garfield County | Low | 66.90 / yr | $105K | |
| 31 | Fremont County | Low | 51.10 / yr | $49K | |
| 32 | Boulder County | Low | 11.23 / yr | $79K | |
| 33 | Weld County | Low | 38.53 / yr | $75K | |
| 34 | Crowley County | Low | 104.35 / yr | $45K | |
| 35 | Kit Carson County | Low | 53.19 / yr | $51K | |
| 36 | Gunnison County | Low | 63.44 / yr | $61K | |
| 37 | Rio Blanco County | Low | 82.82 / yr | $36K | |
| 38 | Douglas County | Low | 23.77 / yr | $57K | |
| 39 | Elbert County | Low | 42.58 / yr | $54K | |
| 40 | Moffat County | Low | 97.82 / yr | $51K | |
| 41 | Custer County | Low | 68.64 / yr | $48K | |
| 42 | Routt County | Low | 59.60 / yr | $49K | |
| 43 | Archuleta County | Very Low | 76.17 / yr | $21K | |
| 44 | Chaffee County | Very Low | 40.92 / yr | $32K | |
| 45 | Huerfano County | Very Low | 109.37 / yr | $17K | |
| 46 | Jefferson County | Very Low | 22.56 / yr | $24K | |
| 47 | Grand County | Very Low | 40.82 / yr | $20K | |
| 48 | Eagle County | Very Low | 44.97 / yr | $18K | |
| 49 | Morgan County | Very Low | 24.82 / yr | $14K | |
| 50 | San Miguel County | Very Low | 82.46 / yr | $13K | |
| 51 | Pitkin County | Very Low | 55.46 / yr | $11K | |
| 52 | Ouray County | Very Low | 66.80 / yr | $9K | |
| 53 | Denver County | Very Low | 21.00 / yr | $7K | |
| 54 | Broomfield County | Very Low | 10.68 / yr | $1K |
54 Colorado counties with measurable drought risk. See the national drought ranking or all Colorado counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Colorado county has the highest drought risk?
Baca County has the highest FEMA drought risk score in Colorado at 96.9 (High), with $2M in expected annual losses and about 138.14 events per year.
How many Colorado counties face significant drought risk?
54 Colorado counties record measurable drought risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 4 of them are rated High or Very High.