Drought Summary for the Western United States Released February 16, 2012
West: Moderate precipitation (over 1 inch) fell on parts of northwestern New Mexico, central and western Colorado, and adjacent Wyoming. Elsewhere, however, only a few areas outside California measured over 0.5 inch. The week’s precipitation, in addition to a re-assessment of overall conditions, prompted the elimination of D3 conditions in northeast Arizona, and reductions in the D0 to D2 areas here and in Northwestern New Mexico. Drought conditions remained unchanged in the rest of the West despite widespread precipitation amounts between 1 and 3 inches in the Sierra Nevada.
Looking Ahead: During the next 5 days (February 16 – 20, 2012), moderate to heavy precipitation (1 to locally over 3 inches) is anticipated across a large area from southeastern Texas eastward through the Florida Panhandle and northeastward into southern North Carolina. Amounts over 0.5 inch are forecast for immediately adjacent sections including central Texas, the northern Florida Peninsula, and southern Virginia, but lesser amounts should fall on the other areas of dryness and drought across the contiguous 48 states.
For the ensuing 5 days, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) 6-10 day indicated that the odds favor above normal precipitation in much the same area as during the next 5 days. Farther west, subnormal amounts are favored from southern Oregon and northeastern California southeastward through western Texas and southward to the Mexican border.
Author: Eric Luebehusen, U.S Department of Agriculture Eric Luebehusen, U.S Department of Agriculture
Dryness Categories |
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D0 ... Abnormally Dry ... used for areas showing dryness but not yet in drought, or for areas recovering from drought. |
