Although portions of the state received normal to above normal precipitation for the third month in a row, long-term moisture deficits are so severe that record dryness was still noted for the state as a whole.

For example, as of December 4, 2002, Pueblo, Colorado had received 3.78" of precipitation since January 1, 2002. Normal precipitation for that 11-month period is 12.08". Even if Pueblo receives as much as the record amount of precipitation for December (1.35" set in 1913), 2002 will fall far short of the 1934 record low total of only 5.78".