Storm activity continued through this past week in the Roaring Fork Watershed, but local rivers are still flowing far below average at 9-39% of normal for this time of year. Despite the recent string of monsoonal rainfall, the watershed still experiencing exceptional drought (5 of 5 levels of intensity), per the U.S. Drought Monitor. Precipitation totals remain below average across the watershed this month - for example, Aspen Airport has received half it’s normal July precipitation. Also, near record-high temperatures and elevated evaporative demand have persisted throughout Colorado all summer, worsening drought conditions. Evaporative demand, or “atmospheric thirst,” quantifies the loss of water from the Earth’s surface driven by temperature, wind speed, humidity, and cloud cover. Releases from Ruedi Reservoir decreased by 50 cfs on Wednesday, but releases are expected to increase substantially in the next couple of weeks  to fulfill senior water rights in the drought-stricken Grand Valley.