Temperature

Temperatures since the water year began on October 1 have averaged between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the southwest deserts and along the Arizona-California border, 50 and 60 degrees F in southeastern Arizona and along the New Mexico-Mexico border, 40 and 50 degrees F in central and northeastern New Mexico, and 40 and 50 degrees F across the Colorado Plateau and the northwestern quarter of New Mexico (Figure 1a).  The highest elevations have seen temperature averages between 30 and 40 degrees F. These temperatures are about 5 degrees warmer than last month, with late spring finally reaching near-average temperatures. Temperatures are within 1 degree F of average across Arizona and northwestern New Mexico, while the eastern two-thirds of New Mexico has been up to 4 degrees warmer than average. The warmest spots are Otero County in New Mexico and Gila County in Arizona. The coolest areas are southwestern New Mexico and northwestern and northeastern Arizona (Figure 1b). The cold area in west-central Arizona is due to a station move rather than a temperature trend.

Temperatures during the past 30 days have been cooler to the west (Figures 1c–d). Western New Mexico has ranged from 0 to 4 degrees cooler than average, while the eastern two-thirds of New Mexico has been 0–6 degrees warmer than average (Figures 1c–d).