Half of Colorado in some level of drought; southeast corner is hardest-hit

State officials say about half of Colorado remains in some level of drought.

The Department of Natural Resources said Monday that more than 15 percent of the state is in a severe to exceptional drought. The hardest-hit area is in southeastern Colorado, while less extreme drought conditions are spread across the southern and eastern parts of the state.

About a quarter of the state is classified as abnormally dry and 10 percent is in a moderate drought.

Conditions vary widely, with the South Platte River in northeastern Colorado forecast to run 150 percent or higher of average because of heavy mountain snow last winter. Rivers in the southwest are predicted to be below 50 percent of average.

Statewide, June precipitation has been 33 percent of average.