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Drought Worsens In New Mexico

Courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Drought conditions across the Southwest have gotten significantly worse over the last few weeks, including in New Mexico.

Take a look at the newest update of the U.S. Drought Monitor map, and you’ll see orange and red smears all across the southwest showing where the drought is impacting the country the most.

Albuquerque hasn’t had a drop of rain for 40 straight days. Chuck Jones is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

“If we can make it through Saturday,” Jones said, “we will set a record for the most consecutive days during the winter season without any precipitation at all. “

Nearly half of New Mexico is in severe or extreme drought, up from about a third of the state a week ago. Roswell has also been without moisture for more than a month. In Clayton, it's been a week since any measureable precipitation has fallen. Still, the area has received only about one-third of its normal precipitation so far this winter.

Meanwhile, 90 percent of the state of California is now in severe to extreme drought, while 80 percent of Nevada is facing extreme to severe drought conditions. 

Credit The National Drought Mitigation Center
The US Drought Monitor drought map for January 28, 2014.

 

Elaine Baumgartel was KUNM's News Director from 2013 to 2019. She was local Morning Edition host from 2007 through 2012 and she regularly hosted the station's live news and public affairs show for some years. Elaine originally came on board at KUNM as a volunteer and student employee in 2003.
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