Arizona, 2021Drought in Arizona, April 1 to 30, 2021
April 1 to 30, 2021 · NWS TWC · 14 events in 14 counties and zones
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. 75 inch of rain.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 14
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.
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
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 Mar 31, 2:58 PM MST, 9 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 2:58 PM MST, 9 hours 2 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
258 PM MST Wed Mar 31 2021
.SYNOPSIS...High pressure will bring temperatures 10 to 15
degrees above average into early next week, including temperatures
in the 90s around Tucson as soon as Thursday. Gusty winds at times
in the afternoon, especially Thursday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...Broad high pressure across the region will dominate
our weather into early next week with near record to record high
temperatures. In the short term, a strong surface ridge down the
central plains to the southern Rockies will bring gusty east to
southeast winds tomorrow. Some fire weather concerns with that,
and downsloping into the Tucson Metro area should push up our
temps an extra 2 or 3 degrees above most guidance.
A weakness in the flow currently just off the northern Baja coast
will shear back into the flow across our area Friday as we
briefly see a more zonal flow as the high anchor reconsolidates to
our south and southwest. With minimal moisture and a filling cold
pool it shouldn't be able to manage much more than some clouds
and virga.
Otherwise, heights and thicknesses will easily support
temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above average through at least early
next week, with records in jeopardy Sunday and Monday. That would
include mid to upper 90s for Tucson. This will ultimately be shut
down by a system currently near the Gulf of Alaska digging south
and then east across the region next week. The main issue is
timing. We continue to see an increasing number of ensemble
members suggesting a slower resolution pumping up the ridge over
our area at least one extra day, which would add Tuesday as
another record high day. A super early 100 degree day isn't
totally out of the question either (probabilities only near 5
percent at this point).
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 02/00Z.
SKC to FEW/SCT cirrus AOA 20k ft AGL. Normal wind trends this
afternoon, becoming ELY 8-10 kts overnight, increasing to 15-20
kts after 01/16Z. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Gusty easterly to southeasterly winds will develop
mainly from Tucson eastward Thursday. A Red Flag Warning has been
issued for portions of Fire Weather Zones 150>154 Thursday.
Otherwise, dry conditions with temperatures well above average are
expected through the upcoming weekend, with widespread single
digit minimum RHs and fair to at times poor overnight recoveries.
In some cases, RH may only only briefly recover into the 30s/40s
percent around daybreak. Much of the evening and night could
remain in the 20s/30s percent. Lighter winds are expected Friday
into the weekend with temperatures approaching record highs over
the weekend into early next week.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning from 9 AM to 6 PM MST Thursday for AZZ150>154.
&&
Meyer/Michael
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
Drought, Tohono O Odham Nation
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 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)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 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)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, Tucson Metro Area
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 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)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, South Central Pinal County
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 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)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, Southeast Pinal County
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 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)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, Upper San Pedro River Valley
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 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)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
- Coordinates
- 31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 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)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 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)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
- Coordinates
- 32.572, -110.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, Chiricahua Mountains
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Chiricahua Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
- Coordinates
- 31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 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)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
- Coordinates
- 32.501, -111.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Drought, Baboquivari Mountains
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 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)
The exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought categories continued across a large part of southeast Arizona during April, with the exception of western Pima County. |Precipitation totals for the month totaled less than 0.25 inch, or less than 25 percent of normal, in most areas, but a few locations from the Mogollon Rim across western Graham/eastern Pinal counties into east central Pima County received between 0.25 and 0.75 inch of rain. Soil moisture readings remained very low, below the 5th percentile ranking across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and Pinal and western Graham counties and below the 10th percentile ranking elsewhere. Levels at San Carlos Reservoir fell close to zero percent of capacity with only 50 acre-feet--the lowest level in more than a decade. At least a dozen small wild land fires occurred during the month, three of which grew to over 1000 acres due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
- 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.
- Excessive Heat and Wildfire in California, April 1 to 4, 20211 death · 1 injured · $3.0 million · 11 events
- Winter Weather in Ohio, April 1, 20216 injured · $800,000 · 2 events
- Drought in New Mexico, April 1 to 30, 202141 events
- Drought in North Dakota, April 1 to 30, 202129 events
- Frost and Freeze in Kentucky, April 1 to 3, 202122 events
- Drought in Colorado, April 1 to 30, 202121 events
- Frost and Freeze in Illinois, April 1 to 3, 202119 events
- Drought in New Mexico, April 1 to 30, 202117 events
- Drought in Texas, April 1 to 30, 202115 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, April 1, 202114 events
- Drought in Texas, April 1 to 30, 202114 events
- Drought in Montana, April 1 to 30, 202113 events
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: 952970, 955615, 955616, 955617, 955618, 955619, 955620, 955621, 955622, 955624, 955625, 955626, 955627, 955628.