Precipitation

Since the water year began on October 1, a few winter storms have crossed the Southwest and flowed northeast from Southern California into Utah and Colorado, leaving most of Arizona and New Mexico dry. Northwestern Arizona has been clipped by some of these storms and has received 150 to more than 300 percent of average precipitation. Other areas in both states, however, have received 25–90 percent of average precipitation. The driest areas have been southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico, where rain has measured less than 25 percent of average (Figures 2a–b). The Sangre de Cristo Mountains in north-central New Mexico have received 110–200 percent of average precipitation. The biggest storms blew through in early October, bringing hail and spawning tornados in central and northern Arizona.

During the past 30 days, northwestern Arizona has received 2–75 percent of average precipitation, and the lower Colorado River has been wetter than average (Figures 2c–d). Northern New Mexico currently tallies between 100 and 200 percent of average. Eastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, on the other hand, have received less than 25 percent of average precipitation in the last month, which is consistent with their dry conditions since the beginning of the water year. Unfortunately, this dry pattern is forecast to continue through the winter, although some winter storms will pass through the Southwest.