July rain in parched Colorado has exceeded norms along much of the urbanized Front Range including Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Pueblo — and elsewhere — bringing relief from high temperatures amid long-term drought.

Cooler river temperatures along the upper Colorado River on Thursday prompted state wildlife officials to lift fishing closures on a stretch west of Kremmling and along the Yampa River.

But the rain in metro Denver and Castle Rock still lagged Thursday at less than half of July norms, according to federal data.

Much of Colorado remained classified as “abnormally dry” – upgraded from moderate drought or more severe — under the government’s drought monitoring system. Federal authorities say the broader West is facing a drought and heat crisis, and the major water supply reservoirs Lake Powell and Lake Mead measured only 27% full.

In the coming week, moisture in the atmosphere over Colorado may lead to more rainfall, National Weather Service meteorologists said. Forecasters have been posting warnings about possible flooding and erosion over wildfire burn scars and in gullies.

However, Colorado’s overall drought conditions persist, NWS meteorologist Evan Direnzo said.

“A couple days of rain cannot make up for a whole season,” Direnzo said.

“What has happened in July has helped” in some areas, he said. “Denver has not been as lucky.”

Federal weather data showed the following July rain accumulations:

1.84 inches in Fort Collins, above the monthly norm of 1.44 inches
3.98 inches in Colorado Springs, above the norm of 2.67 inches
2.08 inches in Pueblo, above the norm of 1.60 inches
3.03 inches in Trinidad, above the norm of  1.78 inches
4.24 inches in Lamar on Colorado’s southwestern plains, above the norm of 2.49 inches

In contrast, the Denver area received .66 inches of rain in July, below the norm of 1.84 inches, NWS data shows. And Castle Rock received .34 inches, less than a third of the norm of 1.18 inches.