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Short-term Drought Status Summary (as reflected in the May 1, 2012 U.S. Drought Monitor)
During the past month only two winter storms passed through Arizona, and they were fairly weak and brought relatively little precipitation. The first storm covered most of the state, but only the northern watersheds and the highest elevations received significant precipitation, including 12” of snow on the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Rainfall from the second storm ranged from a trace to less than ½”, and missed the southern watersheds.
Since April is a transition month from winter to spring, the dryness was not unusual, and most of the state had no change in drought status. However, the southeast and northeast corners did see worsening drought conditions. Severe drought (D2) expanded to fill Cochise County, and in the northern part of Apache County severe drought(D2) expanded eastward and extreme drought (D3) was introduced. We do not expect any improvement in the short-term drought until the monsoon.
Short-term summary produced by the State Drought Monitoring Technical Committee. May 7, 2012
For weekly national and regional drought status updates, visit the U.S. Drought Monitor.
For current information about Arizona fire restrictions, visit the Southwest Coordination Center.
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Visit AZ DroughtWatch for recent drought information
and photos of the impacts occurring in Arizona.
Help characterize and monitor changes in drought
conditions by reporting drought impacts to My DroughtWatch.
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Posted May 8, 2012
Arizona’s long-term drought status map is updated quarterly. The Monitoring Technical Committee determines the drought status for each watershed by comparing the precipitation and streamflow percentiles for the past 24-, 36- and 48 months to a 40-year historical record.
Method for Determining Long-term Drought Status
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Long-term Drought Status Update
The long-term summary is based on the past two-, three-, and four-year precipitation rates for the same three-month period. Since the months of January through March in 2012 were extremely dry, all but five watersheds have dropped at least one drought category.
Although many winter storms affected the west, few of them tracked far enough south to reach Arizona, and those that did were cold and relatively dry. This effectively restricted the precipitation to the northern watersheds and the higher elevations.
All Arizona watersheds are now in some level of drought, with six watersheds in severe drought (D2) and one in extreme drought(D3). The long-term situation is unlikely to change until after the monsoon has concluded, since April through June are generally dry months, particularly in the southern watersheds.
The dryness in both the short-term and the long-term has increased our vulnerability to wildfires statewide, so caution is urged as we move into the camping and outdoor recreation season.
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Arizona Department of Water Resources
Statewide Planning, Drought owner of this page. 
