Drought — Baboquivari Mountains, Arizona

2018-05-01 to 2018-05-31 · Baboquivari Mountains, Arizona

Event narrative

Extreme drought (D3 category), which began in January, expanded during May into western Pima County and southeast Pinal County and continued across southeast Pima County, Santa Cruz County, and far southwest Cochise County including portions of the Tohono O'odham Nation and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita and Huachuca Mountains along with the White Mountains in northern Graham and Greenlee Counties and the San Carlos Apache Tribe lands of northwestern Graham County. Light rain occurred on one day in the extreme drought area during May, with rainfall amounts between a tenth and a half an inch. However, overall soil moisture readings generally decreased, with most areas ranked below the 15th percentile, with some areas below the 5th percentile. Wildfire activity continued in May with several human caused wildfires occurring in or near the extreme drought area. Levels in the San Carlos Reservoir continued to fall during May, and dropped to less than 2 percent of capacity by the end of the month.

Wider weather episode

Extreme drought (D3 category), which began in January, continued across the same sections of southeast Arizona throughout May and expanded farther westward as light rain amounts only occurred on one day during May.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 758091. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.