Drought conditions persisted across the NWS Albuquerque County Warning Area (CWA).
Much of the area received below normal precipitation for the month of February. Areas in southern and southwest New Mexico, including the Upper Gila region, only received about 5-15% of normal precipitation for the month.  Across much of central, western, and northwest New Mexico,  percent of normal precipitation ranged from 25-50%. The eastern plains and the northeast corner of the state did fairly well thanks in large part to a major blizzard that impacted that part of the state during the last week of the month.
Severe drought (D2) conditions were present rom the Sangre de Cristo range in the north to the Chuska Mountains in the west and south to the Upper Gila region. During the first two weeks of 2013, severe drought continued in the same areas as in January, but during the second half of February there was a drastic increase in extreme drought (D3) conditions.  D3 conditions expanded from mostly the eastern half of the state all the way west to near Gallup and to the southern extent of our CWA with only southwest Chaves County in D2 conditions. Exceptional drought (D4) conditions also expanded during the month. D4 continued in portions of Union and Roosevelt counties and began to develop in San Miguel County, inching into Guadalupe and Mora counties. The San Francisco River Valley in the southwest continued to stay out of D2 drought conditions. Also, portions of the far northwest highlands along the Colorado-New Mexico border began to ease out of D2 drought conditions.

Drought in NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 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-FEB-13 00:00:00 to 28-FEB-13 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency