The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says drought conditions are expected to stick around for the fall in Colorado.

Colorado and Wyoming had their warmest summers on record this year, and parts of eastern Colorado and Wyoming are experiencing exceptional drought, which is the most intense level reported by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

A new quarterly outlook from NOAA and the Western Governors' Association says drought will persist across most of the West and Great Plains this fall.

However the outlook also says weak El Nino conditions are likely through at least December, possibly into early spring. El Nino usually means above-average precipitation for the southwestern U.S., though forecasters say this year probably won't be as rainy or snowy as past El Nino years.

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