Drought — Baboquivari Mountains, Arizona

2011-09-01 to 2011-09-30 · Baboquivari Mountains, Arizona

Event narrative

The month of September started off with above average rainfall across eastern Pima County and well as western Cochise County. However, the rest of the area continued to receive below normal rainfall and above normal temperatures. Tucson International Airport received the fifth highest rainfall amount in recorded history on September 15 of 2.84 inches. However, locations nearby received a tenth of an inch or less. This allowed the Tucson area, and northeast Pima County to be dropped from extreme drought conditions (D3) to severe drought conditions (D2). Extreme drought condition areas were lowered by almost 4 percent by the end of the month. However, due to the lack of rainfall across eastern Cochise, Graham, and Greenlee Counties, exceptional drought conditions (D4) expanded across southern Greenlee County. Most areas received less than 50 percent of the average rainfall, while areas in eastern Pima County and western Cochise County received greater than 300 percent of normal. Drought impacts across the state actually lessened in September as dry conditions have continued for several months with little change from month to month.

Wider weather episode

Long term drought conditions continued during September with some improvement during the beginning of the month, mostly across eastern Pima County. Dry conditions returned the later half of the month as the Monsoon began to wind down.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 349178. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.