Drought in Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains, Arizona

Drastic improvements were made to drought conditions during the first half of December as widespread beneficial rain fell across the entire region. The early December rainfall coupled with above normal rainfall in November was sufficient to remove D3 (extreme) and D4 (exceptional) drought conditions from all of southern Arizona by December 20th for the first time since March. While rainfall will be beneficial to winter annuals and crops, little improvement was seen in streams, ponds, and stock tanks. The last half of the month ended with no additional rainfall, so the concern for a dry winter remains.

Drought conditions across southern Arizona eased somewhat toward the end of December.