Precipitation

Precipitation since the water year began on October 1 generally has been slightly below average in most of Arizona, with exceptionally dry spots in northern Mohave, Navajo, and Apache counties. In these regions, rain and snow have totaled between 25 and 50 percent of average (Figures 2a–b). Southern Coconino County, on the other hand, experienced between 100 and 130 percent of average precipitation, mostly the result of copious snowfall in early December. The southwest corner of the state also has been wet, with precipitation measuring between 110 and 200 percent of average. Precipitation has been patchy in New Mexico; southern areas have experienced 50–90 percent of average, while northern and central parts of the state have received more than 150 percent of average. These wet spots cover parts of McKinley, Cibola, and Guadalupe counties, and correspond to the places that also experienced colder-than-average temperatures.

 
During the last 30 days, conditions generally have been dry, which is more reflective of the typical La Niña pattern that was not present in the first three weeks of December (Figures 2c–d). Precipitation has been very sparse in the western half of Arizona, which received between 2 and 25 percent of average precipitation. A small area in east-central Arizona was the only region that received above-average precipitation in the state. Western and northern New Mexico have been dry, while wetter conditions have covered most of the southeast corner, where rain and snow have totaled between 150 and 800 percent of average. The wet weather in this region is fortuitous, because it is the area experiencing the most severe drought.