Monsoon rainfall helped shrink the area of extreme drought (D3) conditions in southeast Arizona toward the end of July. Portions of Graham and Greenlee counties remained dry as the bulk of the rainfall occurred in Cochise County, especially near the international border.

Drought in EASTERN COCHISE COUNTY BELOW 5000 FEET, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought eased markedly across Cochise County during July as monsoon rainfall of mounts of 3 to 10 inches, representing 125 to 250 percent of normal, fell across the region. By July 23rd, all extreme drought (D3) was removed from Cochise county. The northern third of the county improved to the severe drought (D2) category while the remainder of Cochise County, where the heaviest rain fell, improved to either the D0 or D1 drought category. The Bisbee-Douglas International Airport recorded 10.12 inches of rain, the most ever measured there in one calendar month.

Drought in CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought eased markedly across Cochise County during July as monsoon rainfall of mounts of 3 to 10 inches, representing 125 to 250 percent of normal, fell across the region. By July 23rd, all extreme drought (D3) was removed from Cochise county. The northern third of the county improved to the severe drought (D2) category while the remainder of Cochise County, where the heaviest rain fell, improved to either the D0 or D1 drought category. The Bisbee-Douglas International Airport recorded 10.12 inches of rain, the most ever measured there in one calendar month.

Drought in DRAGOON/MULE/HUACHUCA AND SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought eased markedly across Cochise County during July as monsoon rainfall of mounts of 3 to 10 inches, representing 125 to 250 percent of normal, fell across the region. By July 23rd, all extreme drought (D3) was removed from Cochise county. The northern third of the county improved to the severe drought (D2) category while the remainder of Cochise County, where the heaviest rain fell, improved to either the D0 or D1 drought category. The Bisbee-Douglas International Airport recorded 10.12 inches of rain, the most ever measured there in one calendar month.

Drought in UPPER SAN PEDRO RIVER VALLEY, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought eased markedly across Cochise County during July as monsoon rainfall of mounts of 3 to 10 inches, representing 125 to 250 percent of normal, fell across the region. By July 23rd, all extreme drought (D3) was removed from Cochise county. The northern third of the county improved to the severe drought (D2) category while the remainder of Cochise County, where the heaviest rain fell, improved to either the D0 or D1 drought category. The Bisbee-Douglas International Airport recorded 10.12 inches of rain, the most ever measured there in one calendar month.

Drought in GALIURO AND PINALENO MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-13 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The area under extreme drought (D3) conditions shrank only slightly in southern Graham and Greenlee counties as the bulk of monsoon rain fell both to the north and south of the Gila River Valley. Most locations received between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain during July, which is near or slightly below normal. The Safford airport received just 1.49 inches of rain.  Some of the effects on the cotton crop have been mitigated by farmers leaving half of their fields idle this season.  Mandatory water restrictions adopted by the City of Safford in August of 2012 have helped mitigate the city's supply to some extent, but due to the prolonged drought, the low water table caused the city to shut off four of the city's eleven wells. This in turn prompted the city to approve higher water rates to fund the drilling of new wells and building of pipelines. In nearby Thatcher, mandatory water restrictions were ordered and stricter water conservation standards have been adopted for new construction.

Drought in UPPER GILA RIVER AND ARAVAIPA VALLEYS, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-13 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The area under extreme drought (D3) conditions shrank only slightly in southern Graham and Greenlee counties as the bulk of monsoon rain fell both to the north and south of the Gila River Valley. Most locations received between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain during July, which is near or slightly below normal. The Safford airport received just 1.49 inches of rain.  Some of the effects on the cotton crop have been mitigated by farmers leaving half of their fields idle this season.  Mandatory water restrictions adopted by the City of Safford in August of 2012 have helped mitigate the city's supply to some extent, but due to the prolonged drought, the low water table caused the city to shut off four of the city's eleven wells. This in turn prompted the city to approve higher water rates to fund the drilling of new wells and building of pipelines. In nearby Thatcher, mandatory water restrictions were ordered and stricter water conservation standards have been adopted for new construction.