Drought in Northwest Highlands, New Mexico

Moderate to severe drought conditions persisted across the area through October 2022.

A very active weather pattern continued through October 2022 with several widespread rainfall events leading to near-record wet conditions in some areas for the month of October. Significant improvements continued for drought across the state, especially northern, central, and western NM. Widespread precipitation totals between two and five inches occurred across the southern half of the state with many areas across the northern half averaging one-half inch to one inch for the month. These totals were on the order of 200 to 400 percent of normal. By months end, only 21 percent of the state was in severe to exceptional drought, of which about 7 percent was extreme drought.