Arizona, 2018

Drought in Arizona, June 1 to 30, 2018

June 1 to 30, 2018 · NWS TWC · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

Extreme drought (D3 category), which began in January, changed little in areal extent during June across sections of southeast Arizona. Expansion of extreme drought farther southeast was inhibited by a significant precipitation event resulting from the remnants of Hurricane Bud.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
11

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS TWC wrote it up.

Extreme drought (D3 category), which began in January, changed little in areal extent during June across sections of southeast Arizona. Expansion of extreme drought farther southeast was inhibited by a significant precipitation event resulting from the remnants of Hurricane Bud.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 31, 9:01 PM MST, 2 hours 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 9:01 PM MST, 2 hours 59 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
901 PM MST Thu May 31 2018

.SYNOPSIS...High pressure will bring dry conditions and hotter
temperatures, with near record highs by Sunday. Expect some
moderation in daytime temperatures by the middle of next week as
moisture gradually increases.

&&

.DISCUSSION...SE AZ is caught between strong high pressure to our
southeast over north central Mexico, and a late season trough
through western states to our northwest. The resulting breezy to
locally windy winds will continue to diminish overnight. Dry and
more dry with surface dew points in the single digits and the 00z
KTWC sounding around 1/4 of an inch, with just a little 500mb
moisture.

It's good to see strong convection throughout the state of Durango
with solid outflows pushing into southern Chihuahua. The first
story over the next few days will be temperatures climbing to
around 10 degrees above average by Sunday as the strong ridge
builds in from Mexico. The second story will be watching the
moisture progress up the Sierra Madres next week as high pressure
builds northward, backing winds a little more southerly. It's
early, but it looks like a decent setup for a few high based dry
microburst style thunderstorms near the mountains by the second
half of next week.

&&

.AVIATION... Valid through 02/06Z.
FEW to SCT clouds AOA 25k ft AGL. Surface winds diminishing
overnight, generally under 10kts. SWLY winds near the Int'l
border terminals 12-16 kts with gusts to 25 kts Friday afternoon,
and WLY winds less than 12 kts at other locations. Aviation
discussion not updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...The hottest temperatures of the year
so far are expected to occur this weekend, with dry conditions
persisting though Wednesday. However, there will be a slight chance
of mainly dry thunderstorms across the White Mountains Sunday.
Increasing moisture will then bring a slight chance of thunderstorms
to the mountains of Fire Zones 152 and 153 on Thursday. Elevated
winds will be confined to mainly far southeast portions of the
state on Friday with less wind occuring over the weekend. Look for
speeds to increase once again by Tuesday. In general, critical
fire weather thresholds are not expected to be met.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.

&&

Meyer

Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Western Pima County

When
June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Western Pima County forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, much of Pima, all but far southeast Pinal Counties and the northern halves of Graham and Greenlee Counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains. The remnants of Hurricane Bud resulted in a significant rainfall event during the middle of the month. Rainfall amounts from a tenth of an inch to just over 2 inches yielded departures of just an inch or less above normal. This was just enough rain to keep soil moisture readings similar to May levels, with all of the D3 area below the 15th percentile and western areas below the 5th percentile.

Wildfire activity was limited for much of June, but began to increase toward the end of the month as lightning activity increased. Levels in the San Carlos Reservoir continued to fall during June, and dropped to less than 1 percent of capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Tohono O Odham Nation

When
June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Tohono O Odham Nation forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.501, -111.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, much of Pima, all but far southeast Pinal Counties and the northern halves of Graham and Greenlee Counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains. The remnants of Hurricane Bud resulted in a significant rainfall event during the middle of the month. Rainfall amounts from a tenth of an inch to just over 2 inches yielded departures of just an inch or less above normal. This was just enough rain to keep soil moisture readings similar to May levels, with all of the D3 area below the 15th percentile and western areas below the 5th percentile.

Wildfire activity was limited for much of June, but began to increase toward the end of the month as lightning activity increased. Levels in the San Carlos Reservoir continued to fall during June, and dropped to less than 1 percent of capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys

When
June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.812, -111.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, much of Pima, all but far southeast Pinal Counties and the northern halves of Graham and Greenlee Counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains. The remnants of Hurricane Bud resulted in a significant rainfall event during the middle of the month. Rainfall amounts from a tenth of an inch to just over 2 inches yielded departures of just an inch or less above normal. This was just enough rain to keep soil moisture readings similar to May levels, with all of the D3 area below the 15th percentile and western areas below the 5th percentile.

Wildfire activity was limited for much of June, but began to increase toward the end of the month as lightning activity increased. Levels in the San Carlos Reservoir continued to fall during June, and dropped to less than 1 percent of capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Tucson Metro Area

When
June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Tucson Metro Area forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, much of Pima, all but far southeast Pinal Counties and the northern halves of Graham and Greenlee Counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains. The remnants of Hurricane Bud resulted in a significant rainfall event during the middle of the month. Rainfall amounts from a tenth of an inch to just over 2 inches yielded departures of just an inch or less above normal. This was just enough rain to keep soil moisture readings similar to May levels, with all of the D3 area below the 15th percentile and western areas below the 5th percentile.

Wildfire activity was limited for much of June, but began to increase toward the end of the month as lightning activity increased. Levels in the San Carlos Reservoir continued to fall during June, and dropped to less than 1 percent of capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, South Central Pinal County

When
June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where
South Central Pinal County forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, much of Pima, all but far southeast Pinal Counties and the northern halves of Graham and Greenlee Counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains. The remnants of Hurricane Bud resulted in a significant rainfall event during the middle of the month. Rainfall amounts from a tenth of an inch to just over 2 inches yielded departures of just an inch or less above normal. This was just enough rain to keep soil moisture readings similar to May levels, with all of the D3 area below the 15th percentile and western areas below the 5th percentile.

Wildfire activity was limited for much of June, but began to increase toward the end of the month as lightning activity increased. Levels in the San Carlos Reservoir continued to fall during June, and dropped to less than 1 percent of capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Southeast Pinal County

When
June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Southeast Pinal County forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, much of Pima, all but far southeast Pinal Counties and the northern halves of Graham and Greenlee Counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains. The remnants of Hurricane Bud resulted in a significant rainfall event during the middle of the month. Rainfall amounts from a tenth of an inch to just over 2 inches yielded departures of just an inch or less above normal. This was just enough rain to keep soil moisture readings similar to May levels, with all of the D3 area below the 15th percentile and western areas below the 5th percentile.

Wildfire activity was limited for much of June, but began to increase toward the end of the month as lightning activity increased. Levels in the San Carlos Reservoir continued to fall during June, and dropped to less than 1 percent of capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Upper San Pedro River Valley

When
June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Upper San Pedro River Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.109, -110.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, much of Pima, all but far southeast Pinal Counties and the northern halves of Graham and Greenlee Counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains. The remnants of Hurricane Bud resulted in a significant rainfall event during the middle of the month. Rainfall amounts from a tenth of an inch to just over 2 inches yielded departures of just an inch or less above normal. This was just enough rain to keep soil moisture readings similar to May levels, with all of the D3 area below the 15th percentile and western areas below the 5th percentile.

Wildfire activity was limited for much of June, but began to increase toward the end of the month as lightning activity increased. Levels in the San Carlos Reservoir continued to fall during June, and dropped to less than 1 percent of capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys

When
June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
33.074, -109.563 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, much of Pima, all but far southeast Pinal Counties and the northern halves of Graham and Greenlee Counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains. The remnants of Hurricane Bud resulted in a significant rainfall event during the middle of the month. Rainfall amounts from a tenth of an inch to just over 2 inches yielded departures of just an inch or less above normal. This was just enough rain to keep soil moisture readings similar to May levels, with all of the D3 area below the 15th percentile and western areas below the 5th percentile.

Wildfire activity was limited for much of June, but began to increase toward the end of the month as lightning activity increased. Levels in the San Carlos Reservoir continued to fall during June, and dropped to less than 1 percent of capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties

When
June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where
White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
33.074, -109.563 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, much of Pima, all but far southeast Pinal Counties and the northern halves of Graham and Greenlee Counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains. The remnants of Hurricane Bud resulted in a significant rainfall event during the middle of the month. Rainfall amounts from a tenth of an inch to just over 2 inches yielded departures of just an inch or less above normal. This was just enough rain to keep soil moisture readings similar to May levels, with all of the D3 area below the 15th percentile and western areas below the 5th percentile.

Wildfire activity was limited for much of June, but began to increase toward the end of the month as lightning activity increased. Levels in the San Carlos Reservoir continued to fall during June, and dropped to less than 1 percent of capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains

When
June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.834, -110.796 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, much of Pima, all but far southeast Pinal Counties and the northern halves of Graham and Greenlee Counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains. The remnants of Hurricane Bud resulted in a significant rainfall event during the middle of the month. Rainfall amounts from a tenth of an inch to just over 2 inches yielded departures of just an inch or less above normal. This was just enough rain to keep soil moisture readings similar to May levels, with all of the D3 area below the 15th percentile and western areas below the 5th percentile.

Other than the Judd Fire in the Mule Mountains outside the Extreme Drought area during early June, wildfire activity was limited for much of the month, then began to increase toward the end of the month as lightning activity increased. Levels in the San Carlos Reservoir continued to fall during June, and dropped to less than 1 percent of capacity by the end of the month.

Drought, Baboquivari Mountains

When
June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Baboquivari Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, much of Pima, all but far southeast Pinal Counties and the northern halves of Graham and Greenlee Counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains. The remnants of Hurricane Bud resulted in a significant rainfall event during the middle of the month. Rainfall amounts from a tenth of an inch to just over 2 inches yielded departures of just an inch or less above normal. This was just enough rain to keep soil moisture readings similar to May levels, with all of the D3 area below the 15th percentile and western areas below the 5th percentile.

Wildfire activity was limited for much of June, but began to increase toward the end of the month as lightning activity increased. Levels in the San Carlos Reservoir continued to fall during June, and dropped to less than 1 percent of capacity by the end of the month.

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, June 2018

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 765604, 765606, 765607, 765608, 765609, 765610, 765611, 765612, 765613, 765614, 765615.