Dry weather dominated for many areas throughout the month. The long awaited summer thunderstorm season began about a week late and with early rainfall amounts that were light and spotty. Hopes for drought relief were dashed during the mid-month as a high pressure center rebuilt over the state and suppressed the showers. Following several weeks of abnormally dry weather at mid-month, showers returned but were brought by unusual northeast to southwest upper level winds. By the end of the month higher elevation forest areas had had enough rain and higher humidity to allow the re-opening of federal and state recreational lands that had been closed due to extreme fire danger since early June or for one the longest closure periods on record. Runoff from rains, however, was still light and new worries began that the Rio Grande River would run dry near Albuquerque before the end of summer.

Drought in LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF CHAVES COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HARDING, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS/UPPER GILA REGION, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in LINCOLN COUNTY HIGH PLAINS/HONDO VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in WESTCENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS/ESTANCIA VALLEY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in CONCHAS LAKE/GUADALUPE, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in QUAY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in ROOSEVELT, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in DE BACA, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in CURRY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS INCLUDING JEMEZ, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in NORTHWEST PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in CAPITAN/NORTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-JUL-02 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-02 23:59:00 (MST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.