Home » Supplemental Figures for the January 2011 La Niña Drought Tracker

Supplemental Figures for the January 2011 La Niña Drought Tracker

Supplemental Figure 1. Seasonal Drought Outlook published on December 16 forecasts persisting, intensifying, and expanding drought conditions in the Southwest, predominantly Arizona, which is based in large part on La Niña’s affect on decreasing precipitation. Figure source: Climate Prediction Center.

Supplemental Figure 2. Between 60 and 70 percent of the 20 historical La Niña events has produced above-average snowfall in northern and central Colorado during the December–February period. In northern Arizona, snow fall has also been slightly above average. The right image displays the percent of La Niña events in which the anomalies in the left image occurred. The year of la Niña events analyzed for this period is indicated at the bottom of the figure. Figure source: Climate Prediction Center.

Supplemental Figure 3. Between 50 and 70 percent of the 20 historical La Niña events has produced above-average snowfall in northern and central Colorado during the January–March period. In contrast, northern Arizona, southern Utah, and southern Colorado, snow fall has been below average. Whether Colorado River flows in the Spring are high and reservoir levels increase depends on in large part the balance of these regions. The right image displays the percent of La Niña events in which the anomalies in the left image occurred. The year of la Niña events analyzed for this period is indicated at the bottom of the figure. Figure source: Climate Prediction Center.

Supplemental Figure 4. Between 50 and 70 percent of the 20 historical La Niña events has produced above-average snowfall in northern and central Colorado during the February–April period. In contrast, northern Arizona and New Mexico and southern Utah and Colorado, snowfall has been below average. Whether Colorado River flows in the Spring are high and reservoir levels increase depends on in large part the balance of these regions. The right image displays the percent of La Niña events in which the anomalies in the left image occurred. The year of la Niña events analyzed for this period is indicated at the bottom of the figure. Figure source: Climate Prediction Center.

Supplemental Figure 5. During the December–February period, precipitation in all of Arizona and southern New Mexico has been between 10 and 30 percent below average in more than 60 percent of the historical La Niña events (20 cases). The right image displays the percent of La Niña events in which the anomalies in the left image occurred. The year of la Niña events analyzed for this period is indicated at the bottom of the figure. Figure source: Climate Prediction Center.

Supplemental Figure 6. During the January–March period, precipitation in all of Arizona and western New Mexico has been at least 10 percent below average in more than 60 percent of the historical La Niña events (16 cases). In some regions, below average precipitation has been less than 50 percent of average. The right image displays the percent of La Niña events in which the anomalies in the left image occurred. The year of la Niña events analyzed for this period is indicated at the bottom of the figure. Figure source: Climate Prediction Center.

Supplemental Figure 7. During the February–April period, precipitation in all of Arizona and western New Mexico has been at least 10 percent below average in more than 60 percent of the historical La Niña events (15 cases). The right image displays the percent of La Niña events in which the anomalies in the left image occurred. The year of la Niña events analyzed for this period is indicated at the bottom of the figure. Figure source: Climate Prediction Center.

Supplemental Figure 8. The cumulative precipitation measured in Tucson, Arizona during the last 90 days has been mostly below normal (or average) despite the late December storms. Prior to the December storms, Tucson had about 55 days without rain or snow. The bottom figure displays daily precipitation. The top figure compares the cumulative totals for the last 90 days (stair-stepped line) to the historical average (smooth line). Figure source: Climate Prediction Center.

Supplemental Figure 9. The cumulative precipitation measured in Phoenix, Arizona during the last 90 days has been mostly below normal (or average) despite the late December storms. Prior to the December storms, Phoenix had only one day in about 55 consecutive days with rain or snow. The bottom figure displays daily precipitation. The bottom figure displays daily precipitation. The top figure compares the cumulative totals for the last 90 days (stair-stepped line) to the historical average (smooth line). Figure source: Climate Prediction Center.

Supplemental Figure 10. The cumulative precipitation measured in Winslow, Arizona during the last 90 days has been mostly below normal (or average). The bottom figure displays daily precipitation. The top figure compares the cumulative totals for the last 90 days (stair-stepped line) to the historical average (smooth line). Figure source: Climate Prediction Center.

Supplemental Figure 11. The late December storms that drenched Arizona did not extend far enough east to reach El Paso, Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The cumulative precipitation measured in El Paso during the last 90 days has been mostly below normal (or average); there have only been two events that delivered more than 0.1 inch. The bottom figure displays daily precipitation. The top figure compares the cumulative totals for the last 90 days (stair-stepped line) to the historical average (smooth line). Figure source: Climate Prediction Center.

Supplemental Figure 12.The cumulative precipitation measured in Albuquerque, New Mexico during the last 90 days has been below normal (or average). The bottom figure displays daily precipitation. The top figure compares the cumulative totals for the last 90 days (stair-stepped line) to the historical average (smooth line). Figure source: Climate Prediction Center.