Drought in Chuska Mountains, New Mexico

Severe drought conditions developed during September 2019. Record low precipitation amounts during July and August set the stage for deteriorating drought conditions.

Moderate to severe drought conditions across portions of western New Mexico at the end of August 2019 continued in September. Moderate to severe drought conditions expanded to 33 percent of the state of which 9 percent was deemed as severe drought in the Four Corners area. Precipitation amounts across western NM during September ranged from one to two inches except in the Four Corners region which observed about half an inch or less of rain. Drought conditions continued to worsen due to these below average precipitation amounts.