Drought in Lower Chama River Valley, New Mexico

January 2014 was exceptionally dry and needless to say much drier than normal while temperatures were near to above normal. Average statewide precipitation during the month was a dismal 0.03 inches, which was the driest January on record. Drought conditions steadily worsened as the month progressed. Nearly half (48%) of the state was classified in severe or worse (D2-D4) drought at the end of the month, roughly a 15 percent increase from the beginning of the year.