Temperature

Temperatures since the water year began on October 1 are averaging between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the southwest deserts and along the Arizona-California border, mostly 55 to 65 degrees F in southeastern Arizona and along the New Mexico-Mexico border, generally 45 to 55 degrees F in central and northeastern New Mexico, and 40 to 55 degrees F across the Colorado Plateau and the northwestern quarter of New Mexico (Figure 1a). The highest elevations have seen temperature averages between 35 and 45 degrees F. Temperatures are within 1 degree F of average across western Arizona and western New Mexico (Figure 1b). The eastern two-thirds of New Mexico has been 1–4 degrees F warmer than average, while the eastern and southern borders and central Arizona have been 1–2 degrees F warmer than average. Gila County has seen the highest temperatures in Arizona, and Otero, Roosevelt, and Union counties have been the warmest parts of New Mexico.

Temperatures during the past 30 days have been 0–4 degrees F warmer than average across most of Arizona and northwestern New Mexico, and 2–8 degrees F warmer than average across the rest of New Mexico (Figures 1c-d). The warmest areas in New Mexico have been in the northeastern corner and Roosevelt and Santa Fe counties, where temperatures have been 6–8 degrees F above average