Denver is emerging from one of the warmest and driest winters on record as the region braces for record-low snowpack and potentially historic drought conditions.

Every month from October through March set temperature records, and all but January ranked among the top 20 warmest or driest months in Denver since recordkeeping began in the late 1800s, according to National Weather Service data.

The prolonged warmth and dryness have already prompted multiple fire and water restrictions across the region, fueled by dry conditions and historically low mountain snowpack that supplies the region’s reservoirs during spring melt. 

“The conditions we are experiencing are unprecedented,” Nathan Elder, Denver Water’s manager of supply, said in the news release

Winter snowfall got off to an unusually late start. The first measurable snowfall of the season occurred Nov. 29, the second-latest on record in Denver since 1882, according to the NWS. November finished as the 11th least snowy November on record, with just 0.2 inches of snow — 7.4 inches below the historic average. The month also included the hottest November day ever recorded in Denver, with a high of 83 degrees on Nov. 2.

Snowfall and precipitation improved in December, reaching near-average levels, but persistent warmth remained. December ranked as the second-warmest December on record, averaging about 10 degrees above normal, according to NWS data. The average high temperature was 57.5 degrees, 12.7 degrees higher than average.

Several daily temperature records fell in December, including the warmest Christmas Day on record, when temperatures reached 71 degrees.

Temperatures moderated somewhat in January, which set just one daily record — a high of 67 degrees on Jan. 4. Precipitation and snowfall were near normal or slightly below, but according to the National Weather Service’s January report, conditions had already “contributed to worsening drought over higher terrain and expanding drought across the northeast plains.”

February was historic across multiple measurements. It ranked as the third-warmest February on record, tied for the least snowy and tied for the second-driest February since records began, according to the NWS. The average temperature was 42.1 degrees, 9 degrees above the historic average. The average daily maximum was 58.3 degrees, 12.8 degrees higher than normal.

The NWS recorded only trace snowfall in February — defined as less than 0.05 inches — tying for the least snowfall ever recorded in the month. Precipitation totaled just 0.02 inches, making it tied for the second-driest February on record.

March snowstorms delivered 10.5 inches of snow before the month continued on pace to become the hottest March ever recorded, according to NWS data. Average daily temperatures stood at 50.8 degrees as of March 29, 11.2 degrees above the historical average of 39.6 degrees.

Multiple daily temperature records were broken during the month, including the hottest March day ever recorded in Denver — 87 degrees last Wednesday.

As of Sunday, 100% of Denver County was classified as being in severe drought, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center.

“Denver Water depends on mountain snowpack for its water supply, and this winter was unusually warm and did not deliver the snow we need. This drought is also a reminder of the impacts of climate change on our water supply,” said Alan Salazar, CEO of Denver Water, in a March news release describing current water conditions following the winter.

The release states that both the Colorado River Basin and the South Platte River Basin, which supply municipalities across the region, remain among the worst on record. 

“While April is historically one of the snowiest months of the year in Colorado, recovering to a normal spring snowpack peak would require the snowiest April in recorded history, by a wide margin,” the release stated.