After a long period of time where much of Southwest New Mexico was in Extreme(D3) to Exceptional(D4) drought, many locations fell into the Moderate(D1) to Severe(D2) drought during the month of August.

Drought in UPPER GILA RIVER VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 28-AUG-12 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The entire zone went from Severe(D2) to Moderate(D1) drought on August 28th. The Cooperative Observer at Buckhorn reported 2.27 inches of rain which was only 0.28 inches below normal for the month.

Drought in SOUTHERN GILA HIGHLANDS/BLACK RANGE, NEW MEXICO
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 28-AUG-12 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The entire zone dropped from Severe(D2) to Moderate(D1) drought on August 28th. The Cooperative Observer in White Signal reported 2.04 inches of rain which was 0.63 inches below normal.

Drought in SOUTHERN GILA FOOTHILLS/MIMBRES VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 28-AUG-12 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The area went from Severe(D2) to Moderate(D1) drought on August 28th. The Cooperative Observer in Faywood reported 0.87 inches of rain. The August average is 2.69 inches.

Drought in SOUTHWEST DESERT/LOWER GILA RIVER VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 28-AUG-12 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The entire zone went from Severe(D2) to Moderate(D1) drought on August 28th. The Lordsburg Cooperative Observer reported 0.61 inches of rain which was 1.35 inches below normal.

Drought in LOWLANDS OF THE BOOTHEEL, NEW MEXICO
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 28-AUG-12 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The zone went from Severe(D2) drought to Moderate(D1) drought on August 28th. The Cooperative Observer in Animas reported 1.01 inches of rain which was 1.23 inches below normal.

Drought in UPLANDS OF THE BOOTHEEL, NEW MEXICO
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 28-AUG-12 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The entire zone went from Severe(D2) drought to Moderate(D1) drought on August 28th.

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

The southwestern portion of the zone was in Severe(D2) drought through the entire month. The remainder of the area went from Moderate(D1) to Severe(D2) drought on August 14th. The Deming ASOS reported 1.06 inches of rain which was 0.52 inches below normal.

Drought in EASTERN BLACK RANGE FOOTHILLS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 28-AUG-12 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The entire zone went from Severe(D2) drought to Moderate(D1) drought on August 28th. The Hillsboro Cooperative Observer reported 0.74 inches of rain which was 1.66 inches below normal.

Drought in SIERRA COUNTY LAKES, NEW MEXICO
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 28-AUG-12 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The entire zone went from Severe(D2) to Moderate(D1) drought on August 28th. The Cooperative Observer at Elephant Butte Dam reported 2.07 inches of rain which was 0.06 inches above normal.

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

The northern half of the zone was in Severe(D2) drought for the entire month. The southern areas went from Moderate(D1) to Severe(D2) drought on August 14th. The Jornada Range Cooperative Observer reported 0.61 inches of rain.  The average rainfall for August is 1.95 inches.

Drought in CENTRAL TULAROSA BASIN, NEW MEXICO
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The northern half of the zone was in Severe(D2) drought through the month. The southern half went from Moderate(D1) to Severe(D2) drought on August 14th. The White Sands National Monument Cooperative Observer reported 0.45 inches of rain which was 1.30 inches below normal.

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

The entire zone was in Severe(D2) drought through the month of August.

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

The entire zone went from Extreme(D3) drought to Severe(D2) drought. The Cooperative Observer in Cloudcroft reported 5.04 inches of rain which was 0.42 inches below normal.

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

The entire zone went from Extreme(D3) to Severe(D2) drought.

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

The month started out with Severe(D2) drought in the southwest and Extreme(D3) drought elsewhere.  By the end of the month, the entire zone was in Severe(D2) drought.