Temperature

Temperatures in the new water year (since October 1) continue to average between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the southwest deserts and along the lower Colorado River, 45 to 55 in southeastern Arizona, 40 to 50 in southern New Mexico, and 30 to 45 across the Colorado Plateau and central and northern New Mexico (Figure 1a). These temperatures generally have been 0–2 degrees warmer than average across most of Arizona, with a few isolated locations that have been 0–2 degrees cooler than average (Figure 1b). Gila County, AZ, and Taos County, NM, and along the border of Luna and Grant counties, NM, temperatures have been 2–4 degrees warmer than average. This is similar to the early winter which was warmer than average.  Mid-December through mid-February was colder than average across most of the Southwest. Temperatures over the past 30 days were 0–4 degrees warmer than average across the eastern two-thirds of Arizona and the western half of New Mexico. Eastern New Mexico was 2–6 degrees above average with Otero, Eddy, and southern Chavez counties 6 –10 degrees warmer than average.  Only the western third of Arizona had temperatures slightly cooler than average (Figures 1c–d). The temperature gradient shows the storm paths this winter, with more frequent storms across western Arizona and very few storms across southeastern New Mexico. Fortunately, the storms have generally been quite cold at the highest elevations, dropping snow rather than rain.