Arizona, 2023

Drought in Arizona, November 1 to 30, 2023

November 1 to 30, 2023 · NWS TWC · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

The extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during November. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; while areas near the International Border stretched from the Huachuca Mountains westward across Santa Cruz County to the Buenos…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

The extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during November. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; while areas near the International Border stretched from the Huachuca Mountains westward across Santa Cruz County to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Pima County. While rain fell on several days in November, monthly totals were less than a quarter inch, less than 25 percent of normal. Soil moisture readings remained below the 5th or 10th percentile ranking in most areas through November.

The radar

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

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Event by event

5 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys

When
November 1, 12:00 AM MST to November 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 extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during November. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; while areas near the International Border stretched from the Huachuca Mountains westward across Santa Cruz County to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Pima County. While rain fell on several days in November, monthly totals were less than a quarter inch, less than 25 percent of normal. Soil moisture readings remained below the 5th or 10th percentile ranking in most areas through November.

Drought, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet

When
November 1, 12:00 AM MST to November 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 extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during November. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; while areas near the International Border stretched from the Huachuca Mountains westward across Santa Cruz County to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Pima County. While rain fell on several days in November, monthly totals were less than a quarter inch, less than 25 percent of normal. Soil moisture readings remained below the 5th or 10th percentile ranking in most areas through November.

Drought, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys

When
November 1, 12:00 AM MST to November 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 extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during November. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; while areas near the International Border stretched from the Huachuca Mountains westward across Santa Cruz County to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Pima County. While rain fell on several days in November, monthly totals were less than a quarter inch, less than 25 percent of normal. Soil moisture readings remained below the 5th or 10th percentile ranking in most areas through November.

Drought, Chiricahua Mountains

When
November 1, 12:00 AM MST to November 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 extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during November. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; while areas near the International Border stretched from the Huachuca Mountains westward across Santa Cruz County to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Pima County. While rain fell on several days in November, monthly totals were less than a quarter inch, less than 25 percent of normal. Soil moisture readings remained below the 5th or 10th percentile ranking in most areas through November.

Drought, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains

When
November 1, 12:00 AM MST to November 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 extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during November. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; while areas near the International Border stretched from the Huachuca Mountains westward across Santa Cruz County to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Pima County. While rain fell on several days in November, monthly totals were less than a quarter inch, less than 25 percent of normal. Soil moisture readings remained below the 5th or 10th percentile ranking in most areas through November.

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 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, November 2023

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1143233, 1143234, 1143235, 1143236, 1143237.