Considerable rainfall received in many areas

Considerable rainfall was welcomed in many areas during the week ending June 17, with accumulations climbing to 400 percent or more above average throughout the western half of the state, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mountain Regional Field Office, New Mexico. While helpful, a tremendous amount of additional moisture is needed to bring New Mexico out of the various stages of drought that are entrenched across the state. As noted by comments from Grant and Luna counties, the moisture that fell was quickly absorbed, and dust was blowing by the afternoon. Overall, conditions rated abnormally dry or worse blanketed 99.9 percent of New Mexico. Topsoil moisture levels were reported as 30 percent adequate to surplus, compared with 23 percent last week, 38 percent last year, and a 5-year average of 31 percent. Several wildfires, most of which were triggered by lightening, were still burning across the state. Precipitation was recorded at 40 out of 43 reporting weather stations, with Capulin, at 2.31 inches, reporting the largest accumulation during the week. Albuquerque, Artesia, Cloudcroft, Mountainair, and Truth or Consequences also reported moisture totals over one inch. Average temperatures ranged from 3 degrees below to 8 degrees above normal. Daytime highs varied from 82 degrees at Los Alamos to 107 degrees at Carlsbad.