Extreme drought (D3 category), which began in January, began to decrease in areal coverage across parts of southeast Arizona toward the end of July.  By month's end, the extreme drought was limited to the western halves of Pima and Pinal counties and far northern sections of Graham and Greenlee counties.

Drought in WESTERN PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-18 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued throughout July across the western halves of Pima and Pinal counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation; central Greenlee County; and far northern Graham County including parts of the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands.
Despite rainfall amounts from 1 to 3 inches, which were 50 to 200 percent of normal, soil moisture readings remained low--below the 10th percentile, and in parts of Tohono O'odham Nation, below the 5th percentile.  Wildfire activity was held at bay by the rain, but levels in the San Carlos Reservoir remained at less than 1 percent of capacity throughout July.

Drought in UPPER SAN PEDRO RIVER VALLEY, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-18 00:00:00 to 30-JUL-18 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, portions of southeast Pinal and southeast Pima, central Graham and northern Greenlee counties, including part of San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains for much of July.  Six to eight inches of rain fell in the White Mountains of northern Greenlee County during July.  Elsewhere, rainfall amounts ranged from 1.5 to 4 inches, which were 50 to 150 percent of normal for the month.  Much of this rain fell during the last week of the month and was sufficient enough to raise soil moisture levels to the 10 to 20 percentile range and cause these areas to be upgraded to the severe drought (D2 category) by month's end.
The human caused Cumero Fire, which spread into southeast Pima County from Mexico, was dowsed by early July rainfall.  Lightning ignited several wildfires (Bruno, Howard and Winchester) in Cochise County just east of the extreme drought area during the last week of July, but these were also quickly contained with the help of monsoonal moisture and rainfall.

Drought in DRAGOON/MULE/HUACHUCA AND SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-18 00:00:00 to 30-JUL-18 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, portions of southeast Pinal and southeast Pima, central Graham and northern Greenlee counties, including part of San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains for much of July.  Six to eight inches of rain fell in the White Mountains of northern Greenlee County during July.  Elsewhere, rainfall amounts ranged from 1.5 to 4 inches, which were 50 to 150 percent of normal for the month.  Much of this rain fell during the last week of the month and was sufficient enough to raise soil moisture levels to the 10 to 20 percentile range and cause these areas to be upgraded to the severe drought (D2 category) by month's end.
The human caused Cumero Fire, which spread into southeast Pima County from Mexico, was dowsed by early July rainfall.  Lightning ignited several wildfires (Bruno, Howard and Winchester) in Cochise County just east of the extreme drought area during the last week of July, but these were also quickly contained with the help of monsoonal moisture and rainfall.

Drought in TOHONO O ODHAM NATION, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-18 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued throughout July across the western halves of Pima and Pinal counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation; central Greenlee County; and far northern Graham County including parts of the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands.
Despite rainfall amounts from 1 to 3 inches, which were 50 to 200 percent of normal, soil moisture readings remained low--below the 10th percentile, and in parts of Tohono O'odham Nation, below the 5th percentile.  Wildfire activity was held at bay by the rain, but levels in the San Carlos Reservoir remained at less than 1 percent of capacity throughout July.

Drought in SOUTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-18 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued throughout July across the western halves of Pima and Pinal counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation; central Greenlee County; and far northern Graham County including parts of the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands.
Despite rainfall amounts from 1 to 3 inches, which were 50 to 200 percent of normal, soil moisture readings remained low--below the 10th percentile, and in parts of Tohono O'odham Nation, below the 5th percentile.  Wildfire activity was held at bay by the rain, but levels in the San Carlos Reservoir remained at less than 1 percent of capacity throughout July.

Drought in UPPER GILA RIVER AND ARAVAIPA VALLEYS, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-18 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued throughout July across the western halves of Pima and Pinal counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation; central Greenlee County; and far northern Graham County including parts of the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands.
Despite rainfall amounts from 1 to 3 inches, which were 50 to 200 percent of normal, soil moisture readings remained low--below the 10th percentile, and in parts of Tohono O'odham Nation, below the 5th percentile.  Wildfire activity was held at bay by the rain, but levels in the San Carlos Reservoir remained at less than 1 percent of capacity throughout July.

Drought in BABOQUIVARI MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-18 00:00:00 to 30-JUL-18 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, portions of southeast Pinal and southeast Pima, central Graham and northern Greenlee counties, including part of San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains for much of July.  Six to eight inches of rain fell in the White Mountains of northern Greenlee County during July.  Elsewhere, rainfall amounts ranged from 1.5 to 4 inches, which were 50 to 150 percent of normal for the month.  Much of this rain fell during the last week of the month and was sufficient enough to raise soil moisture levels to the 10 to 20 percentile range and cause these areas to be upgraded to the severe drought (D2 category) by month's end.
The human caused Cumero Fire, which spread into southeast Pima County from Mexico, was dowsed by early July rainfall.  Lightning ignited several wildfires (Bruno, Howard and Winchester) in Cochise County just east of the extreme drought area during the last week of July, but these were also quickly contained with the help of monsoonal moisture and rainfall.

Drought in UPPER SANTA CRUZ RIVER AND ALTAR VALLEYS, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-18 00:00:00 to 30-JUL-18 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, portions of southeast Pinal and southeast Pima, central Graham and northern Greenlee counties, including part of San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains for much of July.  Six to eight inches of rain fell in the White Mountains of northern Greenlee County during July.  Elsewhere, rainfall amounts ranged from 1.5 to 4 inches, which were 50 to 150 percent of normal for the month.  Much of this rain fell during the last week of the month and was sufficient enough to raise soil moisture levels to the 10 to 20 percentile range and cause these areas to be upgraded to the severe drought (D2 category) by month's end.
The human caused Cumero Fire, which spread into southeast Pima County from Mexico, was dowsed by early July rainfall.  Lightning ignited several wildfires (Bruno, Howard and Winchester) in Cochise County just east of the extreme drought area during the last week of July, but these were also quickly contained with the help of monsoonal moisture and rainfall.

Drought in WHITE MOUNTAINS OF GRAHAM AND GREENLEE COUNTIES, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-18 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued throughout July across the western halves of Pima and Pinal counties including the Tohono O'odham Nation; central Greenlee County; and far northern Graham County including parts of the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands.
Despite rainfall amounts from 1 to 3 inches, which were 50 to 200 percent of normal, soil moisture readings remained low--below the 10th percentile, and in parts of Tohono O'odham Nation, below the 5th percentile.  Wildfire activity was held at bay by the rain, but levels in the San Carlos Reservoir remained at less than 1 percent of capacity throughout July.

Drought in TUCSON METRO AREA, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-18 00:00:00 to 30-JUL-18 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, portions of southeast Pinal and southeast Pima, central Graham and northern Greenlee counties, including part of San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains for much of July.  Six to eight inches of rain fell in the White Mountains of northern Greenlee County during July.  Elsewhere, rainfall amounts ranged from 1.5 to 4 inches, which were 50 to 150 percent of normal for the month.  Much of this rain fell during the last week of the month and was sufficient enough to raise soil moisture levels to the 10 to 20 percentile range and cause these areas to be upgraded to the severe drought (D2 category) by month's end.
The human caused Cumero Fire, which spread into southeast Pima County from Mexico, was dowsed by early July rainfall.  Lightning ignited several wildfires (Bruno, Howard and Winchester) in Cochise County just east of the extreme drought area during the last week of July, but these were also quickly contained with the help of monsoonal moisture and rainfall.

Drought in SOUTHEAST PINAL COUNTY, ARIZONA
From 01-JUL-18 00:00:00 to 30-JUL-18 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme drought (D3 category) continued across Santa Cruz, far southwest Cochise, portions of southeast Pinal and southeast Pima, central Graham and northern Greenlee counties, including part of San Carlos Apache Tribal lands and the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Huachuca and White Mountains for much of July.  Six to eight inches of rain fell in the White Mountains of northern Greenlee County during July.  Elsewhere, rainfall amounts ranged from 1.5 to 4 inches, which were 50 to 150 percent of normal for the month.  Much of this rain fell during the last week of the month and was sufficient enough to raise soil moisture levels to the 10 to 20 percentile range and cause these areas to be upgraded to the severe drought (D2 category) by month's end.
The human caused Cumero Fire, which spread into southeast Pima County from Mexico, was dowsed by early July rainfall.  Lightning ignited several wildfires (Bruno, Howard and Winchester) in Cochise County just east of the extreme drought area during the last week of July, but these were also quickly contained with the help of monsoonal moisture and rainfall.