Drought — Baboquivari Mountains, Arizona

2011-11-01 to 2011-11-30 · Baboquivari Mountains, Arizona

Event narrative

After a dry October, D3 (extreme) drought conditions spread across much of southern Arizona to begin November. That marked an increase from 13.88% of the state to 28.59% under D3 conditions. That's the largest total area for D3 conditions since the drought began last winter. There was some relief the first half of the month with a couple of storm systems bringing very beneficial rainfall. Tucson and Douglas ended the month with above normal rainfall, but a majority of southern Arizona ended below normal, including the White Mountain region. Though shower activity in November brought temporary relief, the Arizona State Climatology Office reported that it was too late in the season to help range conditions impacted by the spotty rainfall and hot conditions from the past summer. The light nature of the rainfall also did very little to help rangeland water resources, including ponds and streams. However, rainfall will help winter annuals and crops.

Wider weather episode

Extreme drought conditions continued across southern Arizona in November.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 354753. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.