Five major winter storms in December put a dent in the drought across New Mexico. Most areas received well above normal precipitation for the month.  In fact, many areas received record or near record precipitation totals for the month.  One area that missed out was portions of northwestern New Mexico, though these areas have not yet entered drought status.  This is mainly due to the northwest plateau being the wettest area of the state in 2011, receiving 96 percent of normal precipitation.  On the other hand, the southeast plains were the driest area of the state, at about 50 percent of normal.  Statewide average precipitation during 2011 was 73 percent of normal, making 2011 the driest year since 2003 and the sixth driest on record since the mid 1890s.
Despite the above normal precipitation in December, much of the state remained in drought status.  Most areas, however, did drop a category. The northeast plains, central valleys and southwest mountains dropped from extreme (D3) drought to severe (D2) drought status. Meanwhile, the exceptional (D4) drought across the southeast dropped to extreme (D3) drought status. Northwest areas improved as well, and only the eastern portions of the San Juan Mountains, west central mountains and west central highlands remain in severe (D2) drought status. Monetary damages will be estimated at the end of the event.

Drought in EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in JEMEZ MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in WEST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in ESTANCIA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in SANTA FE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in UNION COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in HARDING COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in GUADALUPE COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in QUAY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CURRY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in DE BACA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency