Contacts: David Brown (david.p.brown@noaa.gov)

      Victor Murphy (victor.murphy@noaa.gov)

Southern Great Plains Region 

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook | March 2013

Quarterly Climate Impacts 

and Outlook

2-Year Percent of Average Precipitation (%)

3/1/2011 - 2/28/2013

 2-Year Departure from Normal Temperature (°F)

3/1/2011 - 2/28/2013

Regional - Climate Overview for December 2012- February 2013

Southern Great Plains Region

March 2013

Significant Regional and National Events for December 2012 - February 2013

Temperature and Precipitation Anomalies 

Highlights from the Region

Oklahoma

• Beneficial winter precipitation has 

dropped exceptional and extreme 

drought coverage in the state from 

91% – 62 % since December 1.

Texas

• Statewide, below normal rainfall has 

occurred four out of the past five 

months; agricultural and municipal water 

deliveries are curtailed along the Lower 

Rio Grande.

New Mexico

• Northern mountain snowpack is running 

20 – 40 % below the historical median.

Chihuahua (Mexico)

• Continued drought is impacting water 

delivery negotiations with the 

United States. 

More information on the Southern Plains drought early warning 

system pilot project is available at the U.S. Drought Portal, 

drought.gov.

Temperature and Precipitation Rankings (since 1895)

Last 3 Months Last 12 Months Last 24 Months

Oklahoma 35th wettest 17th driest 7th driest

Texas 58th driest 25th driest 3rd driest

New Mexico 54th wettest 2nd driest 2nd driest

Oklahoma 30th warmest WARMEST WARMEST

Texas 21st warmest 3rd warmest WARMEST

New Mexico 32nd coldest 5th warmest WARMEST
Contacts: David Brown (david.p.brown@noaa.gov)

      Victor Murphy (victor.murphy@noaa.gov)

Southern Great Plains Region 

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook | March 2013

:#regionalclimateoutlooks

Regional Outlook - for Spring 2013

Regional Highlight - Water Resources Remain Critical Across Much of Region

Southern Plains Partners

Temperature Highlights

• High confidence for above 

normal temperatures for all 

of the Southern Plains during 

April, May, and June.

Drought Highlights

• Increased chances of below 

normal precipitation for most 

of the region through June.

• Drought expected to persist or 

develop in most of Texas and 

New Mexico.

• Some improvement in 

drought possible in eastern 

Oklahoma.

Cooperative Institute for Research in 

Environmental Sciences

cires.colorado.edu

Climate Assessment for the Southwest

climas.arizona.edu

Comisión Nacional del Agua (CONAGUA)

cna.gob.mx

DOI South Central Climate Science Center

doi.gov/csc/southcentral

National Drought Mitigation Center

drought.unl.edu

National Integrated Drought Information System

drought.gov

NOAA/NESDIS National Climatic Data Center

ncdc.noaa.gov

NOAA/NWS Southern Region

srh.noaa.gov

NOAA/NWS Climate Prediction Center

cpc.noaa.gov

NOAA/OAR Physical Sciences Division

esrl.noaa.gov/psd

NOAA Regional Collaboration Teams

regions.noaa.gov

Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program

southernclimate.org

Southern Regional Climate Center

srcc.lsu.edu 

State Climatologists – NM, OK, TX

stateclimate.org

Western Governors’ Association

westgov.org

Western Regional Climate Center

wrcc.dri.edu

Reservoir levels in New Mexico (above left: climas.arizona.edu) and in the 

Chihuahua above center: cna.gob.mx) as of March 1, 2013. Pecos basin reservoirs 

are at 2% capacity; Rio Grande basin reservoirs are at 19%. 

(source: NM state climatologist).

Percent of normal spring and summer streamflow forecast for New Mexico 

(above right: wcc.nrcs.usda.gov) as of March 1, 2013. Inflow into Elephant 

Butte Reservoir, the state’s largest, is at 39% of average. 

(source: NM state climatologist).

North American Drought Monitor (right: drought.gov) as of March 1 2013

Percent

1981 – 2010 

Period