A dry month helped to prolong the drought conditions across Southwest New Mexico with exceptional drought conditions remaining across Eastern Otero County.

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

The far eastern and northern portions of the Tularosa Basin remained in Severe(D2) drought through the entire month. The Cooperative Observer at Tularosa received 0.14 inches of rain which was 0.29 inches below normal.

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

Most of the eastern slopes of the Sacramento Mountains were in Extreme(D3) drought with just the far southeastern portion of the zone in Exceptional(D4) drought.

Drought in EASTERN BLACK RANGE FOOTHILLS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-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 March. The Cooperative Observer at Hillsboro reported just 0.08 inches of rain for the month which was 0.30 inches below normal.

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

Southern and eastern portions of the bootheel remained in Severe(D2) drought through the month. The Cooperative Observer in Antelope Wells reported 0.15 inches of rain which was 0.23 inches below normal.

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

Most of the Otero Mesa was in Exceptional(D4) drought through the month except the far southwest corner where it remained Extreme(D3) drought.

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

The entire zone was in Extreme(D3) drought throughout the month of March. The Cooperative Observer in Cloudcroft received 0.82 inches of precipitation while the average for March is 1.35 inches.

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

Western and northern portions of the Sierra County Lakes zone were in Severe(D2) drought through the month. The Truth of Consequences Airport received 0.20 inches of rain for the month which was 0.07 inches below normal.

Drought in SOUTHERN GILA FOOTHILLS/MIMBRES VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-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 month of March. The Cooperative Observer at Faywood reported 0.08 inches of rain which was 0.30 inches below normal.

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

Far Western Sierra County and Far Eastern Grant County were in Severe(D2) drought through the month of March.

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

With the exception of far western portions of the Tularosa Basin which was in Moderate(D1) drought, the remainder of the zone ranged from Severe(D2) drought west to Extreme(D3) drought east. The Cooperative Observer at Orogrande received 0.60 inches of rain which was 0.25 inches above normal.

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

Only the far northwestern corner of Hidalgo and extreme Southwestern Grant County were in Severe(D2) drought through the month. The Cooperative Observer in Lordsburg reported 0.59 inches of precipitation which was just 0.04 inches below normal.

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

Except for the far northeast corner of Luna County, the remainder of the zone was in Severe(D2) drought through the month of March. The Deming ASOS reported only 0.04 inches of precipitation for the month which was 0.23 inches below normal.

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

The entire zone was in Extreme(D3) drought through the month. The Cooperative Observer in Mountain Park reported 0.40 inches of precipitation for the month which was 0.57 inches below normal.