Drought — Eastern San Miguel County, New Mexico

2020-07-01 to 2020-07-31 · Eastern San Miguel County, New Mexico

Event narrative

Severe drought conditions from June 2020 continued in July.

Wider weather episode

Drought conditions across northern and eastern New Mexico continued to deteriorate during the month of July. Moderate to extreme drought worsened to about 94 percent of the state of which about 14 percent across northern and southeast New Mexico was deemed as extreme drought. Monsoon season got off to a slow start during the month of July as an area of high pressure strengthened over the state. Record heat and dry conditions were observed across the area for several days. A more traditional monsoon pattern developed toward mid-July with some areas receiving beneficial rainfall. Northeast New Mexico received above normal rainfall totals during the latter half of the month, and Clayton recorded their 6th wettest July on record with 5.84 of rainfall. Despite the more active pattern, storm tracks did not favor northwest and southeast New Mexico where below normal precipitation totals and worsening drought conditions were observed. Precipitation totals during the month of July generally ranged from two to three inches across southwest and south central New Mexico with one to three inches across central New Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley. Northeast New Mexico received the most amount of rainfall with CoCoRaHS observers in Union County receiving about five to seven inches. Southeast New Mexico and the Four Corners area received the least amount of precipitation with rain totals ranging from one to two inches.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 898342. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.