Drought

Weekly Map - Drought Conditions

The Arizona Drought Monitoring Technical Committee confers weekly to advise the U.S. Drought Monitor authors on the current drought conditions in Arizona, and makes recommendations about the position of the drought boundaries for Arizona. The U.S. Drought Monitor is the official record of drought for Federal drought relief claims. Information used by the MTC in advising the Drought Monitor authors includes numerous drought indices, precipitation and stream flow data, and impacts data. Every Thursday, the Drought Status web page automatically updates with the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map of Arizona.

Short-term Drought Conditions

Monthly Drought Status Summary: May 2026

A few weather systems brought rain to mostly southern counties in May. Above average precipitation was measured in some locations, including Coronado National Memorial (0.85 inches), Tucson (0.40 inches), and Douglas (0.28 inches), while below average precipitation was recorded in northern counties. Temperatures across the state were above average for the month.

While Moderate (D1) short-term drought decreased in Mohave, Coconino, Navajo, Gila, Maricopa, and Yavapai counties (27% of state), Severe (D2) short-term drought advanced in these areas (60% of state). Extreme (D3) short-term drought expanded in Apache County (2% of state), Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions decreased in La Paz and Yuma counties (7% of state), and areas without short-term drought increased in Cochise and Santa Cruz counties (4% of state). 

El Nino conditions are rapidly developing in the tropical Pacific, and will peak as one the strongest recorded El Nino episodes later this year. While dry conditions may persist into the first part of monsoon, odds for wetter than normal weather increase during the latter half of monsoon through early winter 2026.

Long-term Drought Conditions

Quarterly Drought Status Update: January - March 2026

Arizona experienced the hottest and 28th driest January to March on record this year as well as the hottest and 27th driest past 4 years on record (April 2022 to March 2026). Long-term drought expanded across the state, with Exceptional (D4) long-term drought covering the majority of western, central, and southern counties. Extreme (D3) long-term drought was found in central Yuma, Pinal and Yavapai counties, central Navajo and Apache counties, northern Gila County, western and eastern Coconino County, and much of Cochise County. Small areas of Moderate (D1) and Severe (D2) long-term drought occurred in central Coconino, northern Apache and Navajo counties, southwestern Yuma and Maricopa counties, and northeastern Cochise County.