March Climate Summary
Hydrological Drought
– Hydrological drought continued to ease in the Southwest.
• Most of southwestern Arizona and southern New Mexico are now consid
-
ered free of drought impacts.
• Arizona statewide reservoir storage is above average, while New Mexico
statewide average storage is just over half of its average capacity.
Precipitation
– Wetter-than-average conditions continue in much of the South
-
west. Snowpack remains above average in many regional river basins despite slight
decreases in some areas.
Temperature
– Water year temperatures are above average. The past 30 days have
generally been warmer than average.
Climate Forecasts
– The long-lead temperature forecasts call for increased chances
of warmer-than-average conditions in Arizona and far western New Mexico
through September. Increased chances of above-average precipitation are predicted
through June in New Mexico and western Arizona.
El Niño –
Models predict that the current weak El Niño will persist through mid to
late summer before neutral conditions began to dominate the tropical Pacific Ocean.
The Bottom Line –
Continued improvement is expected in drought conditions
through June in the Southwest.
Southwest Climate Outlook March 2005
Published by the Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS), with support from University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, the Arizona State Climate Office, and the New Mexico State Climate office.
Disclaimer. This packet contains official and non-official forecasts, as well as other information. While we make every effort to verify this information, please understand that we do not warrant the accuracy of any of these materials. The user assumes the entire risk related to the use of this data. CLIMAS, UA Cooperative Extension, and the State Climate Office at Arizona State University (ASU) disclaim any and all warranties, whether expressed or implied, including (without limitation) any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will CLIMAS, UA Cooperative Extension, and the State Climate Office at ASU or The University of Arizona be liable to you or to any third party for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or exemplary damages or lost profit resulting from any use or misuse of this data.