Drought in West Central Highlands, New Mexico

Severe drought conditions from January 2022 continued in February.

After an active end to January 2022, the weather pattern remained active for New Mexico throughout the month of February. However, despite multiple storm systems, the active pattern was once again characterized more by high winds and Arctic airmasses rather than precipitation. Despite northern and western mountains receiving snow totals over one to two feet throughout the month, poor snow water equivalent values continued which only aided in worsening drought conditions. Exceptional drought conditions, which had returned in January, spread into Chaves County during February. Drought conditions across the state worsened with about 80 percent in at least severe drought conditions. About 32 percent of that was categorized as extreme or exceptional drought with about 3 percent in exceptional drought. Precipitation totals across much of northern and central New Mexico generally ranged from one quarter to one half inch. High terrain areas across north central and western New Mexico fared better with precipitation totals closer to one inch.