Drought — Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet, New Mexico

2018-02-01 to 2018-02-28 · Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet, New Mexico

Event narrative

Severe drought conditions over the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico deteriorated even further to extreme drought on February 13, 2018. A few weak storm systems moved through the area during February with light to moderate rain and snow amounts. This additional precipitation was no match for the well below normal snowpack.

Wider weather episode

The widespread severe drought conditions at the end of January worsened over New Mexico through early February as below normal precipitation continued across the state. The wet conditions experienced across central and eastern New Mexico from the monsoon season into late September were a distant memory by February. Several rounds of wind and very low humidity prompted red flag warnings on several days across eastern New Mexico. The weather pattern became more active for northern and western New Mexico by the middle of the month. A few winter storms impacted the higher terrain bringing modest improvements by the end of February. Statewide snowpack rebounded to a paltry 28 percent of median by the end of the month. Severe drought expanded to almost 80 percent of the state and extreme drought conditions were introduced to the northern high terrain. Weather conditions by the end of February 2018 began drying out once again with more critical fire weather. Grass fires were reported around Lincoln County prompting burn bans for the area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 732895. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.