Arizona Drought Status

Drought conditions have expanded and intensified across Arizona during the past 30 days, according to the March 13 update of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Although a few storms moved across the Southwest in late February and early March, they ferried scant rain and snow, causing precipitation deficits to mount across the region. A much-needed winter storm struck many parts of Arizona and New Mexico around March 18, but more rain and snow is needed to compensate for a dry January and February.  

As of March 14, precipitation across Arizona during the previous 30 days was less than 50 percent of average for all of the state, with many central and western locations recording no precipitation at all. This late winter dry spell caused severe drought conditions to expand north and west. Drought now occupies more than 60 percent of the state, an increase of about 27 percent from one month ago (Figures 4a–b). Extreme drought conditions also have developed over Maricopa and Pinal counties, where total winter precipitation values are less than 10 percent of average. About 92 percent of the state was classified with moderate or a more severe drought category as of March 13.