Precipitation

Precipitation since the water year began on October 1 generally has been below average in Arizona and southern New Mexico (Figures 2a–b). In Arizona, precipitation has been 50–90 percent of average across the state, with western Maricopa County and northern Apache County receiving less than 50 percent of average precipitation. Only a small sliver of the southwest corner of the state has received above-average rain. Precipitation in New Mexico has been more variable than in Arizona. While the southern third and eastern portion of the state have measured between 50 and 90 percent of average, the northwest quarter has received 110 to more than 300 percent of average. Most of the precipitation fell in November and December, although a few storms have moved across the northern third of both states during the past month. Some storms wafted north of Arizona before moving south into New Mexico, which explains why northern New Mexico is wetter-than-average while northern Arizona is not.

In the past 30 days, winter storms dipped into the northeast corner of Arizona and northwestern New Mexico before moving northeast through Colorado. These storms benefitted New Mexico the most, as rain and snow measured 150–800 percent of average. The more northerly position of this storm track has left the southwestern two thirds of Arizona and the eastern half of New Mexico with less than 25 percent of average precipitation.