Near the end of the month, October precipitation ranged from well below normal over the western third of New Mexico to well above normal in some eastern border counties. Rain and snow in the Sangre De Cristo mountains of northern New Mexico was also wel above normal for the month of October.

September precipitation was better than normal across much of New Mexico...with the exception of the Four Corners region and parts of the east central and southeast plains where the dryness of August persisted.

As of the end of October, drought concerns focused on the Four Corners region.

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

The Cibola National Forest mountainair ranger district continues the closure of New Canyon and Tajique campgrounds...near the villages of Torreon and Tajique...due to damages sustained from the 2008 Big Spring fire.

From July through September the Farmington Agricultural Center received one half inch of precipitation instead of the normal 3.16 inches, while Navajo Dam recorded 1.45 inches...far less than their July through September normal of 4.15 inches.

Precipitation during water year 2009...October 2008 through September 2009...was below normal for a statewide average of 87 Percent. The northern mountains climate division averaged 99 percent of normal for the water year while southern desert climate division precipitation averaged only 69 percent of normal.

Notable drier than normal sites for water year 2009 included...

New Mexico	12 Month Total	% of Normal Deficit
Farmington Ag Center	5.17	60
Lordsburg 4SE	5.61	54
NMSU Las Cruces	6.19	66
Roswell	8.54	66
Navajo Dam	9.68	72

Notable wetter than normal sites for water year 2009 included...

New Mexico	12 Month Total	% of Normal Surplus
Abiquiu Dam	12.81	130
Chama	24.30	116
Eagle Nest	16.93	114
Pecos National Monument	19.96	125
Espanola	12.18	125

Calendar year 2009 statewide precipitation increased slightly from 80 percent of normal at the end of August to 84 percent of normal at the end of September.

2009 precipitation through September ranges from 96 percent of normal in the southwestern mountains climate division to 74 percent of normal in the southern desert climate division.

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The near-uniformly dry conditions in the spring of 2008 left several regions with significant precipitation deficits through the first six months of last year. Drought conditions extended across much of the southeast two-thirds of the state by early July of 2008. Despite the near normal to abundant summer precipitation in most areas of the state, parts of Union County and far northeast Colfax County still reported moderate precipitation deficits as of the end of August. Persistent dry conditions in the northern portions of the state through November resulted in the continuation of a abnormally dry classification across north central and northeast New Mexico. By late November abnormally dry conditions spread to the northwest corner of the state. A snowy December over the northwest and north central areas eased the dry conditions, while the dry weather persisted in the northwest. The abnormally dry conditions spread south over most of the eastern plains by January and over southern portions of the state in February. The abnormally dry conditions continued over the east and south in February and March, and by May and June much of the area had deteriorated to moderate drought with severe drought in the southeast. Despite the general lack of rainfall in August 2009...June through August 2009 precipitation was above normal in the eastern border counties and in select locations in the northwest and southwest mountain regions of New Mexico. September precipitation was better than normal across much of New Mexico...with the exception of the four corners region and parts of The east central and southeast plains where the dryness of august persisted.

Generally dry conditions are expected through October 19th. A storm will draw moisture north into New Mexico for the 20th and 21st, with possible widespread showers and high mountain snow. Decaying hurricane Rick, moving northeast from southern Baja California, could also come into play.

The precipitation outlook for November favors neither wet nor dry at this time, but the developing El Nino in the Equatorial Pacific should help bring moisture northward to interact with winter storms over the next several months.

For the latest weather forecast for the northern two thirds of New Mexico, please see the NWS WFO Albuquerque Forecast Map.

Reservoir storage is above normal at Abiquiu Lake, El Vado Lake, and Costilla Lake, while water levels were near normal at Heron Lake, Eagle Nest Lake and Navajo Lake. Well below normal storage persists at Conchas Lake, Elephant Butte Lake, Bluewater Lake, Santa Rosa Lake, Sumner Lake and Caballo Lake.

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

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 gather from the NWS and FAA observations sites, state cooperative extension services, the U.S. Geological Survey and other government agencies.