Drought in Chuska Mountains, New Mexico

Severe drought conditions from September 2020 worsened to extreme drought in October.

Drought conditions across northern and central New Mexico continued to worsen during the month of October 2020. October saw below normal precipitation across the entire area with extreme to exceptional drought worsening to about 67 percent of the state. Only one system impacted the state during the month which was a major, historic winter storm that brought widespread snow and record cold to the area. Western New Mexico generally saw precipitation totals around half an inch to an inch while central and eastern New Mexico received amounts around three-quarters of an inch to an inch. The northern high terrain fared the best with liquid equivalent amounts of one to two inches. Despite this welcome precipitation and snow pack, it had no improvement on drought conditions across the state thanks to persistent dry conditions that have been ongoing for many months.