Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

February 5, 2025

Snow Drought Persists in Most of the West With Record Dryness in the Southwest

January 8, 2025

Record-Setting Warm and Dry Conditions Bring Snow Drought to Arizona, New Mexico, and Alaska

Document Preview
Document Date
December 20, 2024
Document Description

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for September–November 2024. Dated December 2024.

Autumn temperatures were above normal across the West, and every state except for Oregon had a top ten warmest autumn since 1895. Northern California, southern Oregon, central Montana, and northeast New Mexico all saw areas of well-above-normal precipitation in autumn. Southeast California, southern Nevada, and western Arizona were exceptionally dry.

December 11, 2024

Winter Kicks Off With a Mix of Snowpack Conditions in the West

Document Preview
Document Date
December 11, 2024
Document Description

Regional groundwater measurements in the Ogallala Aquifer show ongoing declines in aquifer water quality and quantity that are being exacerbated by warming trends and highly variable precipitation. The importance of this system, which is used for agriculture and is a main driver impacting socioeconomic activity and ecosystems in the region, cannot be overstated. Addressing regional aquifer depletion and other water-related challenges, including drought, is vital and necessary work.

Mississippi River Watershed Partnership

October 9, 2024

Water Year 2024 Brought Record-Breaking Temperatures and Varied Precipitation to the Intermountain West, Leading to a Mix of Drought Degradation and Improvement

Document Preview
Document Date
September 23, 2024
Document Description

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for June–August 2024. Dated September 2024.

Summer temperatures were above normal for most of the West except for isolated areas along the California, Oregon, and Washington coasts. California and Arizona saw their warmest summers on record with Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico having their second warmest on record. Precipitation was below normal for most of California, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho.

July 16, 2024

June Precipitation and the Start of the Monsoon Could Bring Drought Relief, but Odds Favor Drier Conditions through Fall Due to Likely Transition to La Niña.

Document Preview
Document Date
June 24, 2024
Document Description

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for March–May 2024. Dated June 2024.

Spring temperatures were generally near normal or below normal for most of the West. Precipitation was near-to-above normal for most of the West with north-central Arizona and southeast Montana much above normal.

Subscribe to New Mexico