State Precipitation &
Temperature Update for
Conditions through September
2006
Precipitation
is monitored for the state of
Here, precipitation
percentile values for the most recent month, along with previous 3-, 6-, 12-,
24-, 36-, and 48-month total are shown for each watershed. Low percentile values (brown shading) indicate
dry conditions while high values (green shading) indicate wet conditions. For
example, a precipitation total that falls at the 100th percentile
means that it is the highest precipitation total for the 1971-present period.
Temperature is monitored for the state of
Here, temperature
percentile values for the most recent month, along with previous 3-, 6-, 12-,
24-, 36-, and 48-month averages are shown for each climate division. Low percentile values (blue shading) indicate
cool conditions while high values (orange/red shading) indicate hot conditions.
For example, a temperature that falls at the 100th percentile means
that it is the highest average temperature for the 1895-present period.
The maps of the seven
periods for precipitation and temperature are shown below, with tables of the
percentile values and descriptive text following the maps. Current update is 10/26/2006.
Precipitation Percentiles by Watershed
(through September 2006)
Temperature Percentiles by Climate
Division (through September 2006)
SHORT TERM CONDITIONS: 1-6 MONTHS
September brought
above-average rainfall to central and southern
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
64.71 |
CD1 |
61.16 |
|
30.56 |
CD2 |
17.41 |
Little |
50.00 |
CD3 |
22.32 |
Verde |
55.56 |
CD4 |
12.95 |
Bill
Williams |
61.11 |
CD5 |
57.14 |
|
72.22 |
CD6 |
54.91 |
|
83.33 |
CD7 |
25.89 |
Salt |
66.67 |
|
|
|
75.00 |
|
|
|
61.11 |
|
|
|
80.56 |
|
|
San Pedro |
97.22 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
91.67 |
|
|
San Simon |
83.33 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
91.67 |
|
SEPTEMBER 2006: percentiles of precipitation for the 15
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
27.94 |
CD1 |
78.13 |
|
47.22 |
CD2 |
41.07 |
Little |
80.56 |
CD3 |
60.71 |
Verde |
75.00 |
CD4 |
46.43 |
Bill
Williams |
30.56 |
CD5 |
88.39 |
|
83.33 |
CD6 |
78.13 |
|
66.67 |
CD7 |
38.39 |
Salt |
80.56 |
|
|
|
66.67 |
|
|
|
86.11 |
|
|
|
86.11 |
|
|
San Pedro |
100.00 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
97.22 |
|
|
San Simon |
72.22 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
91.43 |
|
JULY 2006 - SEPTEMBER 2006 (3-month): percentiles of precipitation for the 15
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
29.41 |
CD1 |
81.25 |
|
27.78 |
CD2 |
89.29 |
Little |
63.89 |
CD3 |
91.96 |
Verde |
63.89 |
CD4 |
86.61 |
Bill
Williams |
30.56 |
CD5 |
96.43 |
|
66.67 |
CD6 |
94.64 |
|
69.44 |
CD7 |
100.00 |
Salt |
72.22 |
|
|
|
63.89 |
|
|
|
72.22 |
|
|
|
86.11 |
|
|
San Pedro |
100.00 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
91.67 |
|
|
San Simon |
69.44 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
91.43 |
|
APRIL 2005 – SEPTEMBER 2006
(6-month): percentiles of precipitation for
the 15
INTERMEDIATE
TERM CONDITIONS: 12-24 MONTHS
The 12 month period
continues to show the effects of a very dry winter of 2005. All watersheds, except the Willcox Playa and
White Water Draw in the southeast and the
In contrast, the
2-year period shows the eastern half of the state below the 40th
percentile for precipitation and the western half above the 60th
percentile. The monsoon rainfall
improved the southeast areas considerably.
The 24-month temperatures remain well above the 75th percentile of most
areas, with the southeast climate division at the 99th percentile.
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
36.36 |
CD1 |
76.58 |
|
17.14 |
CD2 |
90.99 |
Little |
20.00 |
CD3 |
90.99 |
Verde |
17.14 |
CD4 |
93.69 |
Bill
Williams |
8.57 |
CD5 |
90.09 |
|
14.29 |
CD6 |
93.69 |
|
14.29 |
CD7 |
99.10 |
Salt |
11.43 |
|
|
|
28.57 |
|
|
|
11.43 |
|
|
|
22.86 |
|
|
San Pedro |
54.29 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
41.18 |
|
|
San Simon |
14.29 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
42.86 |
|
SEPTEMBER 2005 – SEPTEMBER 2006
(12-month): percentiles of precipitation for
the 15
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
96.77 |
CD1 |
72.73 |
|
82.35 |
CD2 |
90.00 |
Little |
47.06 |
CD3 |
86.82 |
Verde |
76.47 |
CD4 |
92.73 |
Bill
Williams |
73.53 |
CD5 |
82.73 |
|
76.47 |
CD6 |
91.82 |
|
76.47 |
CD7 |
99.09 |
Salt |
50.00 |
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
41.18 |
|
|
|
26.47 |
|
|
San Pedro |
38.24 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
41.18 |
|
|
San Simon |
23.53 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
52.94 |
|
SEPTEMBER 2004 – SEPTEMBER 2006
(24-month): percentiles of precipitation for
the 15
LONG TERM
CONDITIONS: 36-48 MONTHS
There is still little
change in the 36 month precipitation rankings since the September update, with
the western half of the state remaining near or above-average, while the eastern
half of the state is still below average, with the
The Little Colorado
watershed has finally moved above the 25th percentile for
precipitation in the 4-year period.
There is little change in the other watersheds. The eastern watersheds remain below average
while the western watersheds remain near or above normal. Recent months of monsoon moisture have not
changed the excessive heat pattern evident over the past 4 years. Temperatures have remained above the 95th
percentile in the southeast and south central climate divisions, and above the
75th percentile elsewhere in the state.
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
93.55 |
CD1 |
77.06 |
|
63.64 |
CD2 |
91.28 |
Little |
27.27 |
CD3 |
89.91 |
Verde |
54.55 |
CD4 |
96.33 |
Bill
Williams |
48.48 |
CD5 |
87.16 |
|
48.48 |
CD6 |
94.50 |
|
60.61 |
CD7 |
99.08 |
Salt |
39.39 |
|
|
|
78.79 |
|
|
|
30.30 |
|
|
|
12.12 |
|
|
San Pedro |
39.39 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
39.39 |
|
|
San Simon |
21.21 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
54.55 |
|
SEPTEMBER 2003 – SEPTEMBER 2006
(36-month): percentiles of temperature, and
precipitation for the 15
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
-99.99 |
CD1 |
78.70 |
|
65.62 |
CD2 |
90.74 |
Little |
15.62 |
CD3 |
95.37 |
Verde |
50.00 |
CD4 |
98.15 |
Bill
Williams |
53.12 |
CD5 |
92.59 |
|
40.62 |
CD6 |
98.15 |
|
59.38 |
CD7 |
100.00 |
Salt |
28.12 |
|
|
|
75.00 |
|
|
|
18.75 |
|
|
|
15.62 |
|
|
San Pedro |
15.62 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
9.38 |
|
|
San Simon |
25.00 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
28.12 |
|
SEPTEMBER 2002 – SEPTEMBER 2006
(48-month): percentiles of temperature, and
precipitation for the 15
October 2006
The
following summary describes the heat and dryness across the state for the 1-,
3-, 6-, 12-, 24-, 36-, and 48-month periods. The Virgin River
watershed has not yet reported precipitation data, and the
SUMMARY
September brought
above-average rainfall to central and southern
Three-month period – As a result of the wet monsoon,
precipitation was well above normal across the state, with the
Six-month period – The central and southern watersheds are
still above the 60th percentile for precipitation. The
Twelve-month period -
continues to show the effects of a very dry winter of 2005. All watersheds, except the Willcox Playa and
White Water Draw in the southeast and the
Two-year period - shows
the eastern half of the state below the 40th percentile for
precipitation and the western half above the 60th percentile. The monsoon rainfall improved the southeast
areas considerably. The 24-month
temperatures remain well above the 75th percentile of most areas, with the
southeast climate division at the 99th percentile.
Three-year period - There
is still little change in precipitation percentiles since the September update,
with the western half of the state remaining near of above-average, while the
eastern half of the state is still below average, with the Santa Cruz and San
Simon watersheds at the 12th and 21st percentiles,
respectively. The entire state is still
above the 75th percentile for temperature, but climate division 6 dropped
below the 95th percentile this month. Climate divisions 4 and 7 in the southeast
remain above the 95th percentile for temperature.
Four-year period - The
Little Colorado watershed has finally moved above the 25th
percentile for precipitation in the 4-year period. There is little change in the other
watersheds. The eastern watersheds
remain below average while the western watersheds remain near or above normal. Recent months of monsoon moisture have not
changed the excessive heat pattern evident over the past 4 years. Temperatures have remained above the 95th
percentile in the southeast and south central climate divisions, and above the
75th percentile elsewhere in the state.