Widespread severe to extreme drought conditions at the end of July 2018 improved only slightly through August 2018 despite greater coverage of showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall. Severe drought conditions improved slightly to around 64 percent of the state, of which around 36 percent was deemed extreme drought or worse. Exceptional drought improved very little to around 15 percent of New Mexico. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms occurred throughout the month, especially around the higher terrain of central New Mexico, the Rio Grande Valley, and eastern New Mexico. Widespread rainfall amounts of one to three inches occurred across central and eastern New Mexico with pockets of between four and six inches around the Gila region and the eastern plains. Thunderstorms across eastern New Mexico were strong to severe on several days during the month. The Four Corners region remained on the dry side during August 2018 with no improvement to exceptional drought conditions. Several small wildfires that started due to lightning strikes along the Continental Divide in July continued to burn slowly through mid to late August.

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

Extreme drought conditions from July continued through August 2018 for western Curry County. The far eastern portion of the county was completely eliminated from drought in August.

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

Extreme drought conditions from July continued through August 2018 for western Quay County. The far eastern portion of the county was completely eliminated from drought in August.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July improved to extreme drought for parts of the area through August 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from July improved to severe drought through August 2018. The far eastern portion of the county was completely eliminated from drought in August.

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

Severe drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Severe to extreme drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July improved to extreme drought for parts of the Jemez Mountains through August 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July improved to extreme drought for parts of the area through August 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July continued to improve to extreme drought for parts of the area through August 2018. Locations within western San Miguel County remained under severe drought through August.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from July continued through August 2018. Parts of the area south of the metro improved to moderate drought through August.

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

Extreme drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from July improved to severe drought through August 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from July improved to severe drought for most of the area through August 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from July improved to severe drought for most of the area through August 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from July improved to severe drought for the eastern half of the county through August 2018. Parts of far eastern Roosevelt County improved to moderate drought in August.

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

Extreme drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from July improved to moderate drought for parts of the area through August 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from July improved to moderate drought for parts of the area through August 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from July improved to moderate drought through August 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from July continued through August 2018 for areas around Gallup.