Phoenix, AZ – Drought conditions across the Southwest intensified this week, with more than half the region facing severe to exceptional drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Drought Mitigation Center, 66.2% of the Southwest is experiencing moderate drought or worse, while nearly 17.1% is categorized under extreme drought (D3) conditions. Small but critical areas in Arizona, Utah, and western New Mexico remain in exceptional drought (D4), the most severe category.
The weekly update, valid as of Tuesday, shows drought persistence in states including Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. The Four Corners region continues to be one of the hardest hit, with widespread severe (D2) and extreme (D3) drought dominating much of the landscape. California’s interior valleys also remain stressed, with pockets of severe dryness impacting agriculture.
Comparisons to early summer highlight the worsening conditions. On May 27, only about 31.7% of the region was classified as severe drought or worse. This week’s figure has climbed to 47.4%. One year ago, drought was less widespread, with only about a third of the area affected.
The USDA reports that ranchers are facing challenges with parched rangelands, while farmers across Arizona and New Mexico have struggled with reduced irrigation supplies. Reservoir levels in the Colorado River Basin, already depleted from years of below-average snowpack, remain a significant concern for water managers.
Forecasters say late-summer heat will continue to fuel drought intensity, with limited rainfall expected across the desert Southwest in the coming weeks. Any meaningful relief is unlikely before the onset of cooler fall weather patterns.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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