Calendar Year 2008 Precipitation
Through May, statewide average precipitation was 74 percent of normal
(up from 65 percent at the end of April). However, there was a large
range in percent of normal precipitation among climate divisions across
New Mexico. The northwest Plateau climate division averaged 104 percent
of normal precipitation while the Southern Desert climate division averaged
26 percent of normal. The Southeastern Plains climate division experienced
the greatest improvement during May with a 27 percent jump in percent
of normal precipitation (to 57 percent) from the first four months of
2008.
During May 2008, precipitation was generally above normal in the western
border counties and middle Rio Grande Valley, but below normal in the
far northeast corner of the state.
Strong to severe thunderstorms from mid to late May affected parts of
the east central plains. Conchas Dam received 3.63 inches of rain from
thunderstorms on May 28th, which exceeded their normal March through
May precipitation total of 2.97 inches.
Little or no precipitation fell for the third consecutive month across
the southern parts of Hidalgo, Luna, Dona Ana, and Otero Counties. Both
Truth or Consequences and Las Cruces (NMSU) have received less than 0.2
inches of precipitation so far in 2008 (through May).
Through May, some other New Mexico locations experiencing a very dry
start to 2008 included White Sands National Monument with 0.23 inches
(12 percent of normal), Animas with 0.36 inches (17 percent of average),
Socorro with 0.77 inches (33 percent of average), Pasamonte with 0.86
inches (20 percent of normal), and Cloudcroft with 2.13 inches (35 percent
of normal).
Water Year 2008 Precipitation
October 2007 through May 2008 precipitation was 79 percent of normal
for the statewide average (up from 75 percent of normal at the end of
April). However, a look at climate division precipitation showed a range
of 99 percent of normal precipitation in the Northern Mountains to 40
percent of normal in the Southern Desert. The Northwest Plateau climate
division received 97 percent of normal precipitation while the Southeastern
Plains climate division averaged 56 percent of normal precipitation.
Through the first week in March, the dividing line between wet and dry
conditions this water year had set up from about Raton to Glenwood, with
much drier than normal conditions south and east of that line, and moisture-laden
winter storm systems favoring the west central mountains, northwest plateau
and northern mountains. March through May precipitation was below normal
to well below normal nearly statewide as the storm track retreated to
the Great Basin region and Pacific Northwest. As a result, the statewide
average precipitation of 92 percent of normal as of the end of February
had fallen to 79 percent of normal as of the end of May.
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