"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: July 2018
The monsoon activity began later than usual this summer and rainfall has been localized across much of the state with some locations receiving twice their normal amount and others remaining dry.
Rainfall has been plentiful along the Mogollon Rim, through western Coconino and northern Yavapai counties across to southern Navajo and northern Gila counties. This moisture has led to a removal of Exceptional Drought (D4) across the Rim, and reduction of Extreme Drought (D3) in western Coconino, northern Yavapai, eastern Pima and Pinal, and southern Apache counties.
The rain improved rangeland conditions in some areas and the humidity has slowed the spread of wildfires, though potential for significant flash flooding over the burn scars exists.
Substantial moisture deficits remain after the exceptionally dry winter and further improvements in drought conditions will require a robust monsoon season.
At the end of each month, the MTC produces the short-term drought status update based on U.S. Drought Monitor's maps for the past four weeks. An email with the latest map and summary is sent to interested parties.
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 May 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.