Recently Arizona Water News asked Arizona State Climatologist Erinanne Saffell, as well as Mark O’Malley, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service, to provide some expert analysis of the spate of early-to-mid-winter storms that have made for a surprisingly wet winter in the West thus far.

The State panel charged with making recommendations to Arizona’s Governor about drought status met early in May and concluded – to absolutely no one’s surprise – that Arizona remains locked in the chronic drought conditions that have plagued the Southwest for more than two decades.

The jet stream position that is now ushering gales of hot, dry air right where it is needed least – into drought-wracked northern California – is not a particularly unusual feature at this time of year.

The interagency coordinating group that analyzes Arizona’s drought status on behalf of the Governor had some good water news and some bad water news at its Nov. 28 meeting.

The long, complex effort by federal, municipal and county officials, as well as a private water company, to provide a permanent source of hauled water to residents of New River and Desert Hills in the north Valley appears to be approaching its conclusio

In the foothills regions north of Phoenix, all the ingredients for a recipe of chronic water-woes have been whipping together in recent years.

This is Part Two of a two-part discussion with Arizona’s top weather climatologists about the long (and continuing) drought in the Southwest, the reasons behind the abundant moisture during the 2016-2017 winter and expectations for the future (cross your fingers!).

In today’s feature we talk with Mark O’Malley, forecaster and Climate Science Program manager for the National Weather Service.

The negotiations to find an equitable way to stabilize the Colorado River system and, specifically, Lake Mead have been underway for nearly four years now.

In some respects, the parties at the table – including representatives of California, Nevada, the federal government and Arizona – largely have found common ground, in principle.

If it seems as though the epic dry spell clutching the Southwest has gone on forever, you may be more right than you realize.

As virtually everyone knows, Arizona is approaching its 17^th consecutive year of drought.

In fact, the official line – the really official line from the most recent “Arizona Drought Preparedness Annual Report” – is that portions of Arizona have “been in a state of long-term drought for approximately 21 years.”

Drought doesn’t occur everywhere evenly. Drought affects each Arizona watershed uniquely.

Not to be pouty, but thanks for not all that much, Mr. El Niño.

Arizona-based experts on long-term weather forecasting, water-supply outlooks and forest health on May 17 reported their expectations for the balance of 2016 to a panel that follows drought conditions on behalf of Gov. Doug Ducey.

Their conclusion? Not exactly a novel one: Think… dry.

And hot, of course, as summer approaches. But in the wake of a bust of an El Niño “rainy” season, Arizona and the rest of the Southwest also should anticipate abnormally dry conditions continuing.

Water users in southeastern Arizona drew a little closer on Tuesday to possible resolutions of the tough water issues the region faces.

For the second time in five weeks, Arizona Department of Water Resources staff journeyed to Willcox to hear out the concerns of area residents about their water supplies -- and, to give those residents a chance to flesh out potential resolutions. "You do need to find a balance, it's true," said Melissa DiPeso, a Willcox realtor attending the April 19 sessions. "Our water is getting harder and (our wells) are getting deeper."