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Other Hydrologic Information | Special Hydrologic/Climate Features | Related Web Sites |
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...Small Areas of Exceptional Drought in Northeast and East Central New Mexico... ...Extreme Drought in Much of Central and Eastern New Mexico... ...Severe Drought Nearly Everywhere Else... |
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February 2013. The first week of the month was nearly devoid of precipitation. However, two storms during the 2nd week of the month delivered decent precipitation to the northwest and northeast. Two more storms on the 20th and 25th provided additional snow for the north and east, including a blizzard for parts of the eastern plains on the 25th.
Percent of Normal Precip: February 2013 January 2013. The first week of the new year was mostly dry, aside from some light snow in the northern mountains and snow across the far south central and southeast portions of the state on the 3rd. The mostly dry weather continued through the first half of January across the west and central areas, while the eastern plains have received decent precipitation so far this month. The third week of the month was mostly dry, leaving much of the west and central areas dry or mostly dry. Two storms during the last week of the month delivered significant rain and mountain snow to the state, especially in the west and north.
Percent of Normal Precip: January 2013 |
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2013 Water Year ReviewOctober 2012 - January 2013. Statewide average precipitation is only 49% of normal. The driest areas have been the central valley with 26% of normal and the Southern Deserts with 27% of normal precipitation. The 'wettest' area was the Northern Mountains at 57%.
Long Range Precipitation/Drought OutlookThe official NOAA Climate Prediction Center outlook for New Mexico precipitation for March 2012 predicts below normal precipitation favored over normal or above normal precipitation, with the same scenario for March through May.
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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 InformationReservoir storage is well below normal at all lakes across the state. Water levels were particularily low at Cochiti, Costilla, Brantley, Elephant Butte, Conchas, Santa Rosa and Sumner Lakes. All of these reservoirs were 12 percent or less of their storage capacity! Lake Avalon and Navajo reservoirs had the highest percent of storage at 73% and 56% respectively. 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 the Whitewater-Baldy Fire Complex and Little Bear Fire this year, and the Las Conchas fire in 2011 remain closed. Please see the following link for a listing of the current fire restrictions: http:/www.publiclands.org/firenews/NM.php Below is a map of real-time streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the crrent 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 Features1. The past 12 months (February 2012 - January 2013) average statewide precipitation ranked as the 2nd driest year on record. The last 24 months (February 2011 - January 2013) was also the 2nd driest consecutive 24 months on record! Through the first four months of the current (2013) water year, precipitation ranks as the 24th 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 through this winter and spring. 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 |
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Drought Indices External Links and Sites New Mexico State Engineer Drought Task Force Additional Information New Mexico Precipitation Summaries This product will be updated in mid March, or sooner if necessary in response to significant changes in weather, water supply or drought conditions. Acknowledgements The U.S. Drought Monitor is a multi-agency effort involving the NOAA National Weather Service and National Climatic Data Center, the USDA, State and Regional Climate Centers and the National Drought Mitigation Center. Information for this statement has been gathered from the NWS and FAA observation sites, state cooperative extension services, the U.S. Geological Survey and other government agencies. Thanks to Deirdre Kann, our Science and Operations Officer, for providing many of the links and automatically updating graphics, and the general design of this page! If you have any questions or comments about this drought information statement, please contact: National Weather Service or by e-mail to: |
- National Weather Service
- Albuquerque, NM Weather Forecast Office
- 2341 Clark Carr Loop SE
- Albuquerque, NM 87106-5633
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- Page last modified: March 2nd 2013 1:25 PM