September’s welcome early rain and snow have greened up the natural areas of Ouray, Ridgway and points between after an unseasonably hot and very dry summer. The high peaks of the San Juans sport snow-lined gullies. We could all be forgiven for anticipating a wet autumn.

Unfortunately, that’s not in the weather cards, according to a rather dismal seasonal forecast from NOAA. Meteorologist Meagan Stackhouse in Grand Junction writes, “The drought is expected to persist across eastern Utah and...