National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Other Hydrologic Information | Special Hydrologic/Climate Features | Related Web Sites  

...Big Improvements: No More Exceptional Drought In New Mexico...

...But Three Quarters Of The State Is In Moderate To Extreme Drought...

January through August 2013 statewide precipitation was 79% of normal. The Southwest Mountains has received 94% of normal precipitation while the the Central Highlands was at 70% of normal.

September 2013. Nearly the entire state has received above to well above precipitation for the month. Some areas have already set record rainfall totals for September!

Percent of Normal Precip: September 1-22, 2013

August 2013. The month finished with near normal precipitation across New Mexico.

Percent of Normal Precip: August 2013

July 2013. Most of the state received much needed near to well above normal precipitation in July. 

Percent of Normal Precip: July 2013

2013 Water Year Review

October 2012 - August 2013.  Statewide average precipitation through the first eleven months of the Water Year is 71% of normal. The driest areas have been the Central Highlands Division with 65%. The wettest area was the Southwest Mountaind Division at 79%.

(click map to see current data)
Precipitation Estimates and departures from normal can be generated for a variety of time periods including the current day, archived days, the previous month and the calendar year to date.	October 2012 - July 2013  (click map to enlarge)

US Seasonal Drought Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center 

(click map to enlarge) 

The current U.S. Drought Monitor map depiction of drought for New Mexico can be found at:

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_state.htm?NM,W

Other Hydrologic Information

Reservoir storage is below normal at all lakes across the state, although summer rains have helped bring up storage levels some in most resevoirs. Water levels are lowest at Abiquiu, Cochiti, Caballo, Brantley, Elephant Butte, Conchas, Santa Rosa and Sumner Lakes. You can use the link below to see the current percent of storage capacity at all the major New Mexico dams:

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/resv-graph.pl?state=NM

Areas affected by current and past large fires in 2011, 2012 and 2013 are closed. Most locations have lifted fire restrictions with the continued monsoon rains. Please see the following link for a listing of the current closures and fire restrictions. Click on the small map of New Mexico, then Fire Alert link at the top right of the page.

http://publiclands.org/firenews/?plicstate=NM#alerts

Below is a map of real-time streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the current day of the year. Click on the image to take you to the USGS site.

  New Mexico Water Watch from the USGS  

 (click map to enlarge image)

Special Hydrologic/Climate Features

1. The past 12 months (September 2012 - August 2013) average statewide precipitation ranked as the 24th driest year on record. The last 24 months (September 2011 - August 2013) was the 14th driest consecutive 24 months on record. The last 36 months (September 2010 - August 2013) ranks as the 2nd driest on record.

2. The graph below shows the model predictions on expected ENSO conditions over the next year, in three month blocks (periods of time). We are still in ENSO-neutral conditions, and most models are favoring the continuation of ENSO-neutral conditions into the winter. Here is the link to the latest ENSO Dignostic discussion from the Climate Prediction Center:

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.pdf

Figure provided by the International Research Institute (IRI) for Climate and Society 

Drought Indices

Drought Indices Explained
Crop Moisture Index
Palmer Drought Severity Index
Percent of Normal Precipitation
SPI (Standardized Precipitation Index)

    External Links and Sites  

New Mexico State Engineer Drought Task Force
Water Supply Forecast

Additional Information

New Mexico Precipitation Summaries
Climatology and Paleoclimatology 
Western Region Climate Center

This product will be updated in late September, or sooner if necessary in response to significant changes in weather, water supply or drought conditions.

Acknowledgements

If you have any questions or comments about this drought information statement, please contact:

National Weather Service
2341 Clark Carr Loop SE
Albuquerque NM 87106
505-244-9147x228

or by e-mail to:

sr-abq.webmaster@noaa.gov