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Note: The Southwest Climate Outlook is published monthly by the Climate Assessment for the Southwest Project at the University of Arizona. This work is funded, in part, by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Technology Research Initiative Fund of the University of Arizona Water Sustainability Program.
The Southwest Climate Outlook contains official and non-official forecasts, as well as other information. While we make every effort to verify this information, understand that we do not warrant the accuracy of any of these materials. Links to outside agencies or products do not constitute endorsement. Read full disclaimer
The Southwest Climate Outlook is jointly published each month by the Climate Assessment for the Southwest project and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
Mike Crimmins, Extension Agent
Gregg Garfin, CLIMAS Program Manager
Shoshana Mayden, Editor
Kristen Nelson, Assistant Editor
Rick Brandt, Graduate Research Assistant
Melanie Lenart, Research Associate
Forecasts and Outlooks > Archive
Southwest Climate Outlook - December 2004
Date issued: December 21, 2004
A. Summary
Hydrological Drought – Hydrological drought continues in Arizona and much of New Mexico.
• Storage in many reservoirs held nearly steady or increased slightly this month.
• Northeastern and central Arizona and northwestern New Mexico remain in extreme drought, while conditions in northwestern Arizona improved slightly.
Precipitation – Western Arizona and eastern New Mexico have received from 400–800 percent of average precipitation during the water year. Snowpack is also above average in many Southwest river basins.
Temperature – Water year temperatures are near average in the Southwest. The past 30 days have been cooler than average.
Climate Forecasts – Long-lead forecasts call for increased chances of above-average temperatures in Arizona and western New Mexico for the next 6 months. Increased chances of wetter-than-average conditions are predicted through May 2005.
El Niño – Sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean remain indicative of a weak El Niño, which is expected to continue until May 2005.
The Bottom Line – The Southwest is expected to see limited improvement in drought conditions through early 2005, although reservoir levels are forecasted to remain low.
Water Rights News
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On December 16, final approval came on a deal between Arizona and Nevada in which Nevada may buy up to 1.25 million acre-feet of Arizona’s allotment of Colorado River water at a total cost of $330 million over many years(San Francisco Gate, December 16). The money, which will be paid in a $100 million payment in 2005 and ten $23 million installments beginning in 2009, will come from bond revenue, federal grant money, connections charges for new customers, and a fund from the Southern Nevada Water Authority (Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 10). Nevada will also support Arizona’s effort to protect Central Arizona Project's water allotment (Arizona Republic, December 3).