Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
This map compiled by several federal agencies shows the severity of drought conditions in New Mexico on Dec. 1.
A National Weather Service hydrologist doesn't see much relief coming this winter from New Mexico's persistent drought.
Royce Fontenot, a senior service hydrologist for the agency, said during a webinar last week a La Nina high-pressure system in the northern Pacific Ocean is projected to send the jet stream in a more northernly direction this winter, bringing dryer-than-normal conditions to the parched Southwest.
Fontenot said the outlook for December through February is below-normal precipitation and warmer-than-normal temperatures in New Mexico.
Much of New Mexico is designated as being in extreme or exceptional drought conditions, the worst two categories of the five in the drought monitor. Exceptional drought means a "historic" dry spell, Fontenot said.
Extreme southern Quay County was labeled as being in an exceptional drought, while the Tucumcari and Montoya area was in extreme drought. The Logan, San Jon and Nara Visa regions were designated as being in moderate and severe drought.
The Quay County Commission in September approved a resolution that declared a state of emergency due to drought conditions. The resolution stated the county had a deficit of 10 inches of moisture and has experienced a drought conditions the past three years.
Janet Witte, a project coordinator for the Southwest Board Food Protection and Emergency Preparedness Center, hosted the webinar. The center collaborates with the New Mexico State University College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.
Even if abundant rain and snow falls in the state this winter, little additional runoff to the state's rivers and reservoirs is expected because the soil is so parched, Fontenot said.
He said, in addition, two failed monsoon seasons have exacerbated the dry conditions in New Mexico.
"That trend is not good," Fontenot summarized. "Even with a normal winter, we're going to see little runoff."
When quizzed by state Sen. Pat Woods (R-Broadview) about the forecast model, Fontenot said he had "pretty good" confidence about the agency's prediction.
Fontenot acknowledged there was precedent where La Nina led to higher-than-normal precipitation in New Mexico, particularly in the winter of 2016-2017.
But the low soil moisture won't provide much relief to rivers and lakes even during such conditions. Fontenot said the state needs warm, lengthy rains to provide lasting relief.
Anthony Chavez of the Farm Service Agency gave a brief overview of disaster programs that might be available to farmers and ranchers during the drought, including the Livestock Forage Program, Livestock Indemnity Program, Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish, Tree Assistant Program, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2.