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Low Flow in the Colorado Basin (PDF, 132 KB)
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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
Forecasts and Outlooks > Archive
Southwest
Climate Outlook - November 2004
Date issued: November 23, 2004
A. Summary
The November 2004 outlook is also available in a single, downloadable, printer-friendly file. [November 2004 PDF, 2.4 MB]
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. |
Hydrological Drought – Hydrological drought continues for much of the Southwest.
• Eastern and southeastern New Mexico is free of all drought categories.
• Storage in many reservoirs in Arizona and New Mexico held nearly steady this month.
• Northeastern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico remain in extreme drought.
Precipitation – Western Arizona and eastern New Mexico are much wetter than average, while the remainder of the Southwest is dry.
Temperature – Water year temperatures are generally cooler than average in the Southwest.
Climate Forecasts – Long-lead forecasts call for increased chances of above-average temperatures in Arizona and western New Mexico for the next six months. Slightly increased chances of wetter-than-average conditions are predicted from January to May.
El Niño – Sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean are indicative of a weak El Niño, which is expected to continue into early spring, but the impact of this event is currently uncertain.
The Bottom Line – The Southwest is expected to see limited improvement in drought conditions through early 2005.
Glen Canyon Dam
The latest news concerning the Colorado River involves salinity management and water release at the Glen Canyon Dam. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provided a total of $19.5 million to Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming to control salinity in the Colorado River Basin. To date agricultural producers have already reduced salt by 404,000 tons—57 percent of the 2020 goal. Sediment build-up behind Glen Canyon Dam has led the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to conduct a controlled water release this week. The release will stir up approximately 880,000 tons of sediment, which will be redistributed downstream. The goal is to build up beaches and sandbars and aid vegetation and aquatic animals. |
