Drought in New Mexico, January 1 to 31, 2018

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 2, 2018 across much of the area from Gallup southward toward the Gila Wilderness. Most of this area had not received measurable precipitation in over three months with above normal temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only very light precipitation to the area in early to mid January.

Severe drought conditions were declared for Curry County on January 16, 2018. Most of this area had not received measurable precipitation in nearly four months. Patchy blowing dust had already been reported with a few of the stronger wind events by late January. A wildfire that erupted near Ned Houk State Park north of Clovis rapidly grew to near 2,000 acres with strong winds on January 23, 2018.

Severe drought conditions were declared for Quay County on January 16, 2018. Most of this area had not received measurable precipitation in nearly four months. Patchy blowing dust had already been reported with a few of the stronger wind events by late January. Record high temperatures were set at the Tucumcari airport on several days in late January 2018.

Severe drought conditions were declared for Union County on January 16, 2018. Portions of this area had not received measurable precipitation in nearly four months. Patchy blowing dust had already been reported with a few of the stronger wind events by late January. A couple record high temperatures were set at the Clayton airport by mid to late January 2018.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 2, 2018 across the San Francisco River Valley from near Reserve to Glenwood. Most of this area had not received measurable precipitation in over three months with above normal temperatures.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Northwest Plateau region from Shiprock to Farmington, Bloomfield, and the Navajo Reservation. Much of the area had not reported measurable precipitation in over three months with above normal temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only very light precipitation to the area in early January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Far Northwest Plateau region from Navajo Reservoir to Dulce. Precipitation was well below normal over the area during the last three months of 2017 with above normal temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only very light precipitation to the area in early January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Chuska Mountains. Precipitation was well below normal over the area during the last three months of 2017 with above normal temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only very light precipitation to the area in early to mid January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Northwest Highlands area from near Lindrith to Cuba and Torreon. Precipitation amounts were near zero over the area during the last three months of 2017 with above normal temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only very light precipitation to the area in early to mid January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the West Central Mountains from near McGaffey to El Malpais and the Zuni Mountains. Precipitation amounts were near zero over the area during the last three months of 2017 with above normal temperatures. Snowpack in the high terrain was an abysmal 16 percent of normal by the end of January 2018. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only very light precipitation to the area in early to mid January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Southwest Mountains region from near Quemado to Magdalena and much of the Gila Wilderness. Precipitation amounts were near zero over the area during the last three months of 2017 with above normal temperatures. Snowpack in the high terrain was an abysmal 12 percent of normal by the end of January 2018. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only very light precipitation to the area in early to mid January. A sliver of extreme drought was declared on January 30, 2018 for the area around Luna.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the West Central Highlands area from near Grants to Laguna and Acoma Pueblo. Precipitation amounts were near zero over the area during the last three months of 2017 with above normal temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only very light precipitation to the area in early January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the San Juan Mountains region from near El Vado and Heron lakes to Chama and Tierra Amarilla. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with warm temperatures. Snowpack in the San Juan Mountains was an abysmal 31 percent of normal by the end of January 2018. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Jemez Mountains. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with warm temperatures. Snowpack in the Jemez Mountains was an abysmal 20 percent of normal by the end of January 2018. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in January. The one exception was a heavy snowfall event around January 20, 2018 when 12 to 18 inches of snow fell.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with warm temperatures. Snowpack in the high terrain was an abysmal 24 percent of normal by the end of January 2018. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in January. The one exception was a heavy snowfall event around January 20, 2018 when eight to 14 inches of snow fell.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the West Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with warm temperatures. Snowpack in the high terrain was an abysmal 24 percent of normal by the end of January 2018. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in January. The one exception was a heavy snowfall event around January 20, 2018 when six to 10 inches of snow fell.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with warm temperatures. Snowpack in the high terrain was an abysmal five percent of normal by the end of January 2018. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in January. The one exception was a heavy snowfall event around January 20, 2018 when eight to 14 inches of snow fell.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the East Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with warm temperatures. Snowpack in the high terrain was an abysmal 17 percent of normal by the end of January 2018. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in January. The one exception was a heavy snowfall event around January 20, 2018 when six to 10 inches of snow fell. Fire restrictions were put in place for Mora County on January 10, 2018 until rescinded.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Upper Rio Grande Valley area around Tres Piedras and Taos. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with warm temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in early to mid January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Lower Chama River Valley area around Abiquiu and Espanola. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with warm temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in early to mid January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Sandia/Manzano Mountains. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with above normal temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in early to mid January. Snowpack atop the Sandia and Manzano mountains was nearly non-existent at the end of January 2018.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Albuquerque Metro Area. Precipitation amounts were near zero during the last three months of 2017 coupled with above normal temperatures. The Albuquerque Sunport reported 95 consecutive days with no measurable precipitation through January 9, 2018. This was the fifth longest streak on record since 1892. The dry streak was broken with 0.03 inches of precipitation, followed by no measurable precipitation again for the remainder of the month. There was still no measurable snowfall for the season at the Albuquerque Sunport at the end of January 2018.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Lower Rio Grande Valley from near Bernardo to Socorro and Bosque del Apache. Precipitation amounts were near zero during the last three months of 2017 and the first month of 2018 coupled with above normal temperatures.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Raton Ridge/Johnson Mesa. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with above normal temperatures. Snowpack in the higher terrain was nearly non-existent by the end of January 2018. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Far Northeast Highlands. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with above normal temperatures. Record high temperatures were reported at the Raton Crews Airport on several days through this period. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Northeast Highlands. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with above normal temperatures. Record high temperatures were reported at the Las Vegas Airport on several days through this period. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in January. Fire restrictions were put in place for Mora County on January 10, 2018 until rescinded.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Central Highlands. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with above normal temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Estancia Valley. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with above normal temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for Harding County. Precipitation amounts were near zero during the last three months of 2017 coupled with above normal temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only very light precipitation to the area in January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for Eastern San Miguel County. Precipitation amounts were near zero during the last three months of 2017 coupled with above normal temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only very light precipitation to the area in January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for Guadalupe County. Precipitation amounts were near zero during the last three months of 2017 coupled with above normal temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only very light precipitation to the area in January.

Severe drought conditions were declared for Roosevelt County on January 23, 2018. Most of this area had not received measurable precipitation in nearly four months. Patchy blowing dust had already been reported with a few of the stronger wind events by late January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the Santa Fe Metro Area. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with warm temperatures. A couple quick-hitting, weak storm systems brought only light precipitation to the area in early to mid January.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 30, 2018 for the Upper Tularosa Valley. Precipitation amounts were near zero during the last three months of 2017 and the first month of 2018 coupled with above normal temperatures.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 30, 2018 for De Baca County. Precipitation amounts were near zero during the last three months of 2017 and the first month of 2018 coupled with above normal temperatures.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 30, 2018 for the South Central Mountains. Precipitation amounts were near zero during the last three months of 2017 and the first month of 2018 coupled with above normal temperatures.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 30, 2018 for the South Central Highlands. Precipitation amounts were near zero during the last three months of 2017 and the first month of 2018 coupled with above normal temperatures.