Drought in Chuska Mountains, New Mexico

Severe drought conditions from October 2019 continued in November.

Moderate to severe drought conditions across portions of western and northern New Mexico at the end of October 2019 continued to expand into central NM in November. Moderate to severe drought conditions expanded to include 45 percent of the state of which 18 percent across western and northern NM was deemed as severe drought. An active pattern during the second half of November brought several winter storms and welcome moisture to NM in the form of rain and snow. Precipitation amounts across western New Mexico during November ranged from one half inch to one inch with portions of the southwest receiving near two inches of precipitation. Areas across central and southeast NM received amounts ranging from one to two inches. Despite an active pattern, the northeast received the least amounts of precipitation during the month with amounts ranging from one half to three quarters of an inch.