After many months of having portions of Otero County in Exceptional(D4) Drought, by the end of May, this area was in Extreme(D3) Drought. Areas near the Rio Grande Valley were also saw improvements going into Moderate(D1) Drought during the month.

Drought in SOUTHWEST DESERT/MIMBRES BASIN, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Severe(D2) drought persisted over the zone through the month. The Deming ASOS recorded 0.17 inches of rain which was 0.01 inches below normal during the month of May.

Drought in EASTERN BLACK RANGE FOOTHILLS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The entire zone was in Severe(D2) drought through the entire month of May.  The Hillsboro Cooperative Observer only reported 0.01 inches of rain which was 0.57 inches below normal.

Drought in SIERRA COUNTY LAKES, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

All areas except the far east were in Severe(D2) drought through the month. The far east went from Severe to Moderate(D1) drought on May 15. The total rainfall for the Truth or Consequences Airport was 0.41 inches which was exactly the monthly average.

Drought in NORTHERN DONA ANA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The far western areas of the zone stayed in Severe(D2) drought through the month of May. The remainder of the zone went from Severe to Moderate(D1) drought on May 15. The Cooperative Observer at the Jornada Range received 0.45 inches of rain which was 0.03 inches above normal.

Drought in SOUTHERN DONA ANA COUNTY/MESILLA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The far western portions of the zone remained in Severe(D2) drought while the remainder of the zone went from Severe to Moderate(D1) drought on May 15. The Las Cruces Cooperative Observer at New Mexico State University received 0.61 inches of rain which was almost double the average of 0.33 inches.

Drought in SOUTHERN TULAROSA BASIN, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The far eastern portions of the zone went from Extreme(D3) drought to Severe(D2) drought on May 15. The western areas went from Severe(D2) drought to Moderate(D1) drought on May 15. The Orogrande Cooperative Observer received 0.66 inches of rain which was 0.19 inches above normal.

Drought in WEST SLOPES SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS BELOW 7500 FEET, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The entire zone started the month in Extreme(D3) drought and went to Severe(D2) drought on May 15.

Drought in SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 7500 FEET, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The entire zone started in Extreme(D3) drought to start the month with the western portion of the zone going into Severe(D2) drought on May 15. The Cooperative Observer in Cloudcroft received 1.78 inches of rain which was 0.47 inches above normal.

Drought in EAST SLOPES SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS BELOW 7500 FEET, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The far southern portions of the zone started in Exceptional(D4) drought but on May 15 went to Extreme(D3) drought. The remainder of the zone was in Extreme drought through the entire month.

Drought in OTERO MESA, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The eastern two-thirds of the zone started in Exceptional(D4) drought and went to Extreme(D3) drought on May 15. The western third started in Extreme(D3) drought and went to Severe(D2) drought on May 15.

Drought in UPPER GILA RIVER VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The entire zone remained in Severe(D2) drought through the month of May.

Drought in SOUTHERN GILA FOOTHILLS/MIMBRES VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The zone was in Severe(D2) drought through the month. The Faywood Cooperative Observer reported 0.37 inches of rain which was 0.06 inches above normal.

Drought in SOUTHWEST DESERT/LOWER GILA RIVER VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The zone was in Severe(D2) drought through the entire month of May. The Cooperative Observer in Lordsburg only reported 0.04 inches of rain. The average for May is 0.24 inches.

Drought in LOWLANDS OF THE BOOTHEEL, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Severe(D2) drought persisted across the zone through the month of May. The Cooperative Observer in Antelope Wells reported 0.16 inches of rain which was 0.14 inches below normal.

Drought in UPLANDS OF THE BOOTHEEL, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The entire zone remained in Severe(D2) drought through the month of May.

Drought in SOUTHERN GILA HIGHLANDS/BLACK RANGE, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAY-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The entire zone remained in Severe(D2) drought through the entire month. An observer near White Signal reported 0.26 inches of rain during the month which was 0.06 inches below normal.