"Protecting & enhancing Arizona’s water supplies for current and future generations."
Drought Status
Drought Status
Drought Status
The Arizona Drought Monitoring Technical Committee confers weekly to advise the U.S. Drought Monitor authors on the current drought conditions in Arizona, and makes recommendations about the position of the drought boundaries for Arizona. The U.S. Drought Monitor is the official record of drought for Federal drought relief claims. Information used by the MTC in advising the Drought Monitor authors includes numerous drought indices, precipitation and stream flow data, and impacts data. Every Thursday, the Drought Status web page automatically updates with the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map of Arizona.
Monthly Drought Status Summary: September 2018
The monsoon season brought much needed rainfall to many parts of Arizona, but majority of the drought improvements this month came with the rainfall from Hurricane Rosa. The storm traveled from southwestern through western and central Arizona, leaving northeastern and southeastern Arizona with little improvements.
The percentage area of the state with Extreme Drought (D3) and Severe Drought (D2) conditions decreased this month by 14% and 13%, respectively. Significant improvements in drought conditions were recorded in Yuma, Yavapai, Coconino, western Maricopa, southern Navajo, and northern Gila counties.
The rainfall continued into the first week of October and more storm activity is expected, so there may be further improvements in the coming weeks.
El Niño conditions will begin to materialize during the late fall and winter seasons, reaching a weak or briefly moderate category. These conditions result in a slight tilt in the odds for a wetter than average winter over Arizona.
Quarterly Drought Status Update: July 2018
The lack of moisture this winter season has had significant long-term drought impacts on the state water resources with wells and springs drying up and almost non-existent reservoir inflows.
Groundwater pumping has increased statewide to accommodate water needs for agriculture as well as consumption by people, livestock and wildlife. in addition, water hauling has been common across the state. Dry conditions continued from April through June leading to expansion of Moderate Drought (D2), Severe Drought (D3) and Extreme Drought (D4) across northern and southeastern Arizona.
As of August 1st, the Salt-Verde reservoir system is 49% full, Lake Powell is 52% full, and Lake Mead is 37% full. There is a 52% chance for a declaration of a Colorado River shortage in 2020.
There are indications the remainder of the monsoon season will continue to provide good rainfall for the state. However much like the first half of the season, beneficial rainfall during the monsoon is more localized. A weak to moderate El Nino is likely during the upcoming autumn and winter, though its effects on precipitation on the state only justify a very slight tilt in odds towards wetter weather.
This report was prepared by the Arizona Drought Monitoring Technical Committee, August 3, 2018. Arizona's long-term drought status map is updated quarterly and the next update in early November will reflect the conditions of August, September and October. The long-term drought status for each watershed is determined by comparing the precipitation and streamflow percentiles for the past 24, 36 and 48 months to a 40-year historical record.