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: DECEMBER 2020
While December precipitation was minimal, drought conditions in the northeast corner of the state, primarily around the Chuska Mountains in northern Apache County, were improved by the few storms that passed through Arizona.
This led to a slight reduction in the extent of Exceptional Drought (D4), from 77% of the state at the beginning of December to 73% at the end, with a corresponding increase in Extreme Drought (D3) from 16% of the state to 21%.
Persistent dry conditions this winter have led to a lack of substantial forage and low stock ponds and water catchments, potentially impacting livestock and wildlife.
This report was prepared by the Arizona Drought Monitoring Technical Committee on January 13, 2021. Arizona's short-term drought status map is updated during the first week of each month.
Quarterly Drought Status Update: OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020
The minimal summer monsoon and persisting dry conditions throughout the fall and early winter have led to a significant increase in long-term drought conditions.
Severe (D2), Extreme (D3) and Exceptional Drought (D4) have expanded across the state impacting streamflow and recharge. The resulting dry soils will reduce future recharge by absorbing potential run-off in the spring.
Dry weather will likely continue through the remainder of the winter and spring given a mature La Niña in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
This report was prepared by the Arizona Drought Monitoring Technical Committee, January 13, 2021. Arizona's long-term drought status map is updated quarterly and the next update in early April will reflect the conditions of January, February and March. 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.