Widespread severe drought conditions at the end of February continued to deteriorate and expand in coverage through March. Precipitation across the state was below normal as  there were only a couple weak storm systems that brought light to moderate rain and snow to the region. Snowpack by the end of March was nearly non-existent with many locations reporting their lowest snow-water equivalent values in over 10 years, and in some cases, the lowest on record. Several rounds of wind and very low humidity prompted red flag warnings on several days across central and eastern New Mexico through March. Severe drought conditions held constant at nearly 80 percent of the state, of which 35 percent was deemed extreme drought. A large wildfire was reported over extreme northeastern Union County. Burn bans continued to expand in coverage over several areas of the state. The USDA declared several counties as primary natural disaster areas on March 30, 2018 due to losses and damages from drought. Counties across northern and central New Mexico within the disaster declaration included: Catron, Guadalupe, Harding, McKinley, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, and Taos.  Farmers and ranchers in several other counties also qualified for natural disaster assistance, including: Bernalillo, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, De Baca, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Quay, Roosevelt, Socorro, Torrance, and Union.

Drought in WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 27, 2018.

Drought in CURRY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 6, 2018.

Drought in QUAY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 6, 2018.

Drought in UNION COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 6, 2018.

Drought in SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through March.

Drought in NORTHWEST PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought conditions from February expanded over an even larger area through the end of March.

Drought in FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 6, 2018.

Drought in CHUSKA MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 6, 2018.

Drought in NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 27, 2018.

Drought in WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March.

Drought in SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March. An area of extreme drought continued as well along the Arizona border near Luna. A couple weak storm systems moved through the area during March however snowfall amounts were very light and mainly in the highest terrain.

Drought in WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March.

Drought in SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought conditions from February continued through the end of March. A couple weak storm systems moved through the region during March with only light snowfall amounts. Snow-water equivalent for the Rio Chama River basin was a paltry 43 percent of normal at the end of March. The Hopewell SNOTEL recorded the lowest snow-water equivalent value on record at the end of March since records began in 1980.

Drought in JEMEZ MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought conditions from February continued through the end of March. A couple weak storm systems moved through the region during March with only light snowfall amounts. Snow-water equivalent values for the Jemez River basin were less than five percent of normal by the end of March. Fire restrictions were put in place for all of Los Alamos County beginning March 21, 2018 until rescinded.

Drought in NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought conditions from February continued through the end of March. A couple weak storm systems moved through the area during March with only light to moderate snowfall amounts. Snow-water equivalent values for the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range basin of New Mexico was only 22 percent of normal by the end of March.

Drought in WEST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought conditions from February continued through the end of March. A couple of weak storm systems moved through the area during March with only light snowfall amounts. Snow-water equivalent values for the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range basin of New Mexico was only 22 percent of normal by the end of March.

Drought in SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought conditions from February continued through the end of March. A couple weak storm systems moved through the area during March with only light to moderate snowfall amounts. Snow-water equivalent values for the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range basin was only 22 percent of normal by the end of March.

Drought in EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 6, 2018. A couple weak storm systems moved through the area during March with only light snowfall amounts. Snow-water equivalent values for the Cimarron River and Pecos River basins were less than two percent of normal by the end of March. Fire restrictions were put in place for Colfax County on March 13, 2018 until rescinded.

Drought in UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 27, 2018.

Drought in LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 27, 2018.

Drought in SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March.

Drought in ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March. A burn ban was issued for the Bosque beginning in March.

Drought in LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March.

Drought in RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 6, 2018.

Drought in FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 6, 2018. Fire restrictions were put in place for Colfax County on March 13, 2018 until rescinded.

Drought in NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 13, 2018.

Drought in CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March.

Drought in ESTANCIA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March.

Drought in HARDING COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 6, 2018.

Drought in EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 13, 2018.

Drought in GUADALUPE COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 13, 2018.

Drought in ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March.

Drought in SANTA FE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February deteriorated to extreme drought on March 27, 2018.

Drought in UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March.

Drought in DE BACA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March.

Drought in SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March.

Drought in CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March.

Drought in EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March. Fire restrictions from February remained in place over Lincoln County through March.

Drought in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions from February continued through the end of March. Fire restrictions from February remained in place over Lincoln County through March.