Temperature

Temperatures since the water year began on October 1 ranged from 35 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit on the Colorado Plateau in northeastern Arizona, and from 30 to 40 degrees F in many parts of Northern New Mexico (Figure 1a). In southern New Mexico, temperatures have been between 40 and 50 degrees F, with areas along the Mexico border in the low 50s. The southwestern half of Arizona has been between 50 and 65 degrees F, with the warmest areas in Maricopa County, southern Yuma County, and along the Southern California border. Most areas in both states experienced temperatures within 2 degrees F of average (Figure 1b). Only a few areas have experienced colder-than-average temperatures, generally at the higher elevations, with the coldest spots in southern Guadalupe and central McKinley and Cibola counties.  

In the past 30 days, temperatures have been warmer than average in many regions in the Southwest (Figures 1c–d). All of Arizona has been at least 3 degrees F above average, and a large section of the Colorado Plateau has been as much as 6 degrees F warmer than average. In New Mexico, the northern half has been generally 0–3 degrees F warmer than average, while areas in southern and central New Mexico have been 3 degrees F colder than average. McKinley and Cibola counties have been up to 15 degrees colder than average, in part because these areas have experienced more precipitation.