Widespread severe to extreme drought conditions at the end of April 2018 continued through May 2018. Severe drought expanded to nearly 90 percent of the state, of which 60 percent was deemed extreme drought or worse. Exceptional drought expanded to 18 percent of New Mexico. Spring runoff was nearly nonexistent at most river gages after record low snowpack at several key SNOTEL locations. Precipitation across central and western New Mexico was well below normal and temperatures were above normal. Spotty showers and thunderstorms impacted central and western New Mexico on a couple days however precipitation amounts were just a drop in the bucket compared to long-term deficits. Several back door frontal boundaries brought much needed showers and thunderstorms to parts of eastern New Mexico. Some areas of eastern New Mexico picked up between one and four inches of rainfall in May, along with a few bouts of severe hail and high winds. Some minor improvements were made to drought conditions along the Texas border. Periodic red flag conditions impacted nearly all of New Mexico during May 2018 which aided several new fire starts. The Buzzard Fire in western Catron County grew to over 30,000 acres after a hunter left a campfire abandoned. Nearly the entire state was in stage two fire restrictions and the entire Santa Fe National Forest was closed at the end of May.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April deteriorated to exceptional drought on May 15, 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from April deteriorated to extreme drought on May 8, 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April deteriorated to exceptional drought on May 15, 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from April deteriorated to extreme drought on May 8, 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from April deteriorated to extreme drought on May 15, 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from April deteriorated to extreme drought on May 8, 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April deteriorated to exceptional drought on May 15, 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from April over parts of the county improved to extreme drought on May 29, 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from April deteriorated to extreme drought on May 8, 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from April deteriorated to extreme drought on May 8, 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April deteriorated to exceptional drought on May 15, 2018. Several small wildfires started in the Jemez Mountains. The Santa Fe National Forest was closed at the end of May.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April deteriorated to exceptional drought on May 1, 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April deteriorated to exceptional drought on May 15, 2018 for areas around Gallup.

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

Severe drought conditions from April deteriorated to extreme drought on May 29, 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April deteriorated to exceptional drought on May 15, 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from April deteriorated to extreme drought on May 15, 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions were declared on May 15, 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April deteriorated to exceptional drought on May 1, 2018. Several small wildfires started along the west slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Santa Fe National Forest was closed at the end of May.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April deteriorated to exceptional drought on May 15, 2018. The Santa Fe National Forest was closed at the end of May.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Exceptional drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April continued through May 2018. Minor improvements were made across eastern portions of Curry County.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April continued through May 2018. Minor improvements were made across eastern portions of Quay County.

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

Extreme drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from April continued through May 2018.

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

Severe drought conditions from April deteriorated to extreme drought on May 8, 2018.

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

Extreme drought conditions over western Catron County from April expanded to all of the southwest mountains through May 2018.