Drought conditions persisted across the NWS Albuquerque County Warning Area (CWA).
This month the state saw an increase in storm activity with numerous winter systems crossing the state about once a week. The bulk of the moisture was confined to the northern mountain areas and the eastern plains with much of western and central portions missing out.  Precipitation percent of normal was much better for December, again in part to the increased activity. The northern portions of the state saw above average percent of normal precipitation ranging from 104%-205%. Areas in the northeast also had readings of 115%-203% of normal precipitation. Other areas that were above normal were around the Gallup area and in the southwest near Glenwood.  Areas in the west ranged from 62%-99% of normal. The Albuquerque Metro area as well as surrounding areas were still lacking with only 25%-50% of normal. Although the east did manage to see some moisture with winter systems most of the central and southeast plains remain at only 30%-85% of normal.
Severe drought (D2) continued across the ABQ CWA. D2 conditions were present along central and western New Mexico including the Far Northwest Highlands, San Juan Mountains, Jemez Mountains, Lower Rio Grande Valley, and as far east as Eastern Lincoln County.  Extreme (D3) drought crept into portions of the Northwest Plateau by the end of the month and continued for much of the east enveloping most of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The sole zone left that has not succumbed to severe drought status is the San Francisco River Valley.

Drought in DE BACA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in NORTHWEST PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in CHUSKA MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 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-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Drought in WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 01-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency