| Figure 1. Arizona statewide water year precipitation, 1896-2005. Arizona water year precipitation shows prolonged droughts in the early 1900s and the 1950s. Drought conditions beginning in 1998 continue to the present, with 2002 being the driest year on record. Drought impacts in 2002 included extensive wildfires, water supply emergencies, vegetation and wildlife mortality, and economic losses in the ranching, agriculture, and tourism sectors. The data presented are based on the water year (October to September), a measure commonly used in hydrological and climatological analysis. Data for each climate division are averaged across the state. The pink horizontal line shows long-term statewide average precipitation (12.5 inches) and the shaded vertical boxes show periods of extreme, statewide drought. The timing of longterm drought varies by indicator, so the vertical boxes are somewhat subjective. |
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