Arizona, 2025Drought in Arizona, February 18 to 28, 2025
February 18 to 28, 2025 · NWS TWC · 3 events in 3 counties and zones
The extreme (D3) drought category was introduced to northeastern sections of southeast Arizona during beginning of February and by the end of the month included western sections and eastern sections of Southeastern Arizona. The total area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; the Huachuca…
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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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- Heat and drought
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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 extreme (D3) drought category was introduced to northeastern sections of southeast Arizona during beginning of February and by the end of the month included western sections and eastern sections of Southeastern Arizona. The total area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; the Huachuca Mountains westward across Santa Cruz County; and Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Pima County. Across Southeast Arizona, the overall precipitation ranking was in the bottom tenth of the driest months on record. Soil moisture readings fell to below the 1st percentile ranking by the end of February in most areas.
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 Feb 18, 1:14 AM MST, 3 hours 46 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 18, 1:14 AM MST, 3 hours 46 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
114 AM MST Tue Feb 18 2025
.SYNOPSIS...Above normal high temperatures into early next week.
Weak weather systems moving by to our north this week will bring
afternoon breezes today and then again Thursday and Friday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...A weak shortwave trough will pass through the Four
Corners today and will bring breezy winds from Tucson eastward.
The strongest winds will be along the AZ/NM border. Temperatures
will be 6-10 degrees above normal and remain that way into the
first part of the weekend. Brief ridging takes over Wednesday then
another shortwave moves through the Four Corners late Thursday
into Friday. This system will be dry with the main effect on
sensible weather being elevated winds. Sunday into early next week
a strong ridge builds into the region increasing temperatures even
further above normal. Tucson could see its first 90 degree high
early next week. Probabilities for 90 degrees or higher next week
Monday and Tuesday are 20-40 percent for the Tucson metro.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 19/12Z.
FEW-SCT cirrus clouds AOA 20k ft AGL through the period. SFC
winds less than 10 kts this morning, WLY 10-15 kts with ocnl
gusts 20-25 kts, strongest near KDUG, KOLS and KSAD. After 19/02Z
winds become less than 10 kts again. Aviation discussion not
updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Dry conditions for the next 7 days with min RH
generally 10-15 percent. A few passing weather systems will bring
breezy winds today and again later in the week on Thursday to
Friday. The Storm Prediction Center has placed Cochise county in
an elevated risk for critical fire weather conditions today for
increased afternoon winds and dry fuel conditions. The strongest
winds will mainly be east of Tucson for both weather systems.
Temperatures will be 5-10 degrees above normal into the weekend.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&
Hardin
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
Drought, Western Pima County
- When
- February 18, 5:00 AM MST to February 28, 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)
The extreme (D3) drought category was introduced to western sections of southeast Arizona during the middle of February. The drought area expanded to include portions of Western Pima County. For the month of February, Pima county ranked the 8th driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings fell below the 1st percentile for the month of February.
Drought, Tohono O Odham Nation
- When
- February 18, 5:00 AM MST to February 28, 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 extreme (D3) drought category was introduced to western sections of southeast Arizona during the middle of February. The drought area expanded to include portions of Western Pima County. For the month of February, Pima county ranked the 8th driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings fell below the 1st percentile for the month of February.
Drought, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys
- When
- February 18, 5:00 AM MST to February 28, 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 was introduced to southern sections of southeast Arizona during the middle of February. The drought area expanded to include portions of Santa Cruz County. For the month of February, Santa Cruz county ranked the 10th driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings fell below the 1st percentile for the month of February.
- 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.
- Extreme Cold and Cold in Oklahoma, February 18 to 21, 2025106 events
- Extreme Cold and Cold in Texas, February 18 to 21, 202575 events
- Extreme Cold in Missouri, February 18 to 21, 202537 events
- Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Arkansas, February 18 to 19, 202534 events
- Winter Storm in Missouri, February 18 to 19, 202530 events
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in West Virginia, February 18 to 20, 202530 events
- Extreme Cold in Nebraska, February 18 to 20, 202527 events
- Extreme Cold in Kansas, February 18 to 20, 202522 events
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Kentucky, February 18 to 19, 202522 events
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Illinois, February 18 to 19, 202519 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Tennessee, February 18 to 19, 202519 events
- Extreme Cold in North Dakota, February 18 to 19, 202514 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: 1231408, 1231410, 1231412.