(SOUTHERN COLORADO) — As of Wednesday, Oct. 23 the newest drought monitor update highlights a few different areas of concern across the state. There has been a notable lack of rainfall for many in Colorado with a nearly complete stretch of dry weather from the end of September through most of October. Portions of the Pikes Peak region are now dealing with severe drought, as are portions of the Eastern Plains. Parts of El Paso County are enduring moderate drought conditions, as are portions of the Arkansas River Valley. Most of the Central Mountains, the Sangre De Cristos, and San Juans are above the drought threshold. Despite the general intensification of the drought across the region, some areas are still reporting precipitation numbers well above normal for this time of year. Lamar, Walsenburg, La Junta, Alamosa, and Las Animas are more than a half an inch of rain ahead of where they should be. Alamosa specifically has been experiencing a substantial amount of rainfall; they are reporting 1.59 inches of rain which is more than three times their normal amount. Areas that are generally struggling include Cañon City, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Walsh. All four cities are below average when it comes to rainfall, which lines up with what the drought monitor is showing. Walsh is particularly dry with just over a quarter of an inch of rain reported for October. Typically, this part of the state can expect over 1.25 inches of rainfall at this time. Based on this data, Walsh is roughly 75% below normal precipitation. Looking forward to November, the Climate Prediction Center is calling for yet another month of below average precipitation. This time, however, it looks like the center of their outlook is positioned over the desert southwest. Southern Colorado is on the edge of the bullseye indicating that mostly dry conditions are likely to persist.