State Precipitation &
Temperature Update for
Conditions through November 2008
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. Not copied to summary yet – need to
proof. Current update is 12/31/2008. The data are preliminary.
Precipitation Percentiles by Watershed
(through November 2008)
Temperature Percentiles by Climate
Division (through November 2008)
SHORT TERM CONDITIONS: 1-6 MONTHS
November precipitation
was near average across most of the state, with the central watersheds somewhat
wetter than average, and the
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
72.97 |
CD1 |
94.74 |
|
57.89 |
CD2 |
95.61 |
Little |
50.00 |
CD3 |
94.74 |
Verde |
71.05 |
CD4 |
91.23 |
Bill
Williams |
81.58 |
CD5 |
84.21 |
|
76.32 |
CD6 |
83.77 |
|
57.89 |
CD7 |
92.11 |
Salt |
63.16 |
|
|
|
94.74 |
|
|
|
44.74 |
|
|
|
26.32 |
|
|
San Pedro |
44.74 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
45.95 |
|
|
San Simon |
18.42 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
47.37 |
|
NOVEMBER 2008: percentiles of precipitation for the 15
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
22.22 |
CD1 |
91.15 |
|
21.05 |
CD2 |
82.89 |
Little |
26.32 |
CD3 |
93.86 |
Verde |
23.68 |
CD4 |
71.93 |
Bill
Williams |
34.21 |
CD5 |
91.23 |
|
26.32 |
CD6 |
94.74 |
|
28.95 |
CD7 |
76.32 |
Salt |
21.05 |
|
|
|
63.16 |
|
|
|
28.95 |
|
|
|
23.68 |
|
|
San Pedro |
28.95 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
13.51 |
|
|
San Simon |
18.42 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
18.42 |
|
SEPTEMBER 2008 - NOVEMBER 2008
(3-month): percentiles of precipitation for
the 15
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
11.11 |
CD1 |
81.86 |
|
39.47 |
CD2 |
84.21 |
Little |
23.68 |
CD3 |
92.11 |
Verde |
31.58 |
CD4 |
56.14 |
Bill
Williams |
55.26 |
CD5 |
94.74 |
|
36.84 |
CD6 |
98.25 |
|
92.11 |
CD7 |
86.84 |
Salt |
65.79 |
|
|
|
57.89 |
|
|
|
76.32 |
|
|
|
60.53 |
|
|
San Pedro |
84.21 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
62.16 |
|
|
San Simon |
76.32 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
59.46 |
|
JUNE 2008 – NOVEMBER 2008 (6-month): percentiles of precipitation for the 15
INTERMEDIATE
TERM CONDITIONS: 12-24 MONTHS
The 12-month period continues
to be the wettest interval with 14 watersheds above the 48th
percentile, and four watersheds above the 75th percentile. Only the Virgin watershed is drier than
average. Temperatures were slightly
warmer than average in northern
The 24-month period was
wetter than average in the Salt, upper and lower Gila and San Simon watersheds,
near average in the upper Colorado, San Pedro, and Whitewater Draw watersheds,
and drier than average in the other eight watersheds. The high variability is due to the difference
in storm tracks between the winters of 2007 and 2008, and monsoon activity in
the summers of 2007 and 2008. Temperatures
for the 24-month period are once again above the 75th percentile
across the state, with the warmest temperatures in Maricopa, Pinal, and the
southeastern counties.
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
17.14 |
CD1 |
68.58 |
|
72.97 |
CD2 |
61.06 |
Little |
54.05 |
CD3 |
76.99 |
Verde |
48.65 |
CD4 |
49.12 |
Bill
Williams |
54.05 |
CD5 |
77.88 |
|
54.05 |
CD6 |
88.50 |
|
91.89 |
CD7 |
78.32 |
Salt |
86.49 |
|
|
|
67.57 |
|
|
|
81.08 |
|
|
|
62.16 |
|
|
San Pedro |
70.27 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
51.35 |
|
|
San Simon |
78.38 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
54.05 |
|
DECEMBER 2008 – NOVEMBER 2008 (12-month): percentiles of precipitation for the 15
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
2.94 |
CD1 |
75.89 |
|
41.67 |
CD2 |
85.71 |
Little |
33.33 |
CD3 |
88.39 |
Verde |
25.00 |
CD4 |
83.48 |
Bill
Williams |
19.44 |
CD5 |
88.39 |
|
22.22 |
CD6 |
95.54 |
|
83.33 |
CD7 |
92.86 |
Salt |
61.11 |
|
|
|
38.89 |
|
|
|
66.67 |
|
|
|
27.78 |
|
|
San Pedro |
44.44 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
36.11 |
|
|
San Simon |
61.11 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
44.44 |
|
DECEMBER 2007 – NOVEMBER 2008
(24-month): percentiles of precipitation for
the 15
LONG TERM
CONDITIONS: 36-48 MONTHS
The 36-month period remains
the driest long term period statewide, with the driest watersheds in central
The 48-month period has
nine watersheds drier than average, five watersheds near average, and one
(lower Gila) wetter than average. The
driest watersheds continue to be the
|
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
3.03 |
CD1 |
77.93 |
|
31.43 |
CD2 |
88.29 |
Little |
22.86 |
CD3 |
91.89 |
Verde |
14.29 |
CD4 |
90.99 |
Bill
Williams |
8.57 |
CD5 |
90.09 |
|
8.57 |
CD6 |
97.30 |
|
62.86 |
CD7 |
99.10 |
Salt |
45.71 |
|
|
|
28.57 |
|
|
|
54.29 |
|
|
|
28.57 |
|
|
San Pedro |
42.86 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
48.57 |
|
|
San Simon |
28.57 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
40.00 |
|
DECEMBER 2006 – NOVEMBER 2008
(36-month): percentiles of temperature, and
precipitation for the 15
Watershed |
Precipitation Percentile |
Climate
Division |
Temperature Percentile |
Virgin |
29.03 |
CD1 |
76.36 |
|
55.88 |
CD2 |
89.09 |
Little |
38.24 |
CD3 |
91.82 |
Verde |
38.24 |
CD4 |
92.73 |
Bill
Williams |
17.65 |
CD5 |
88.18 |
|
26.47 |
CD6 |
100.00 |
|
67.65 |
CD7 |
100.00 |
Salt |
52.94 |
|
|
|
47.06 |
|
|
|
52.94 |
|
|
|
23.53 |
|
|
San Pedro |
38.24 |
|
|
Willcox
Playa |
38.24 |
|
|
San Simon |
29.41 |
|
|
White
Water Draw |
47.06 |
|
DECEMBER 2005 – NOVEMBER 2008
(48-month): percentiles of temperature, and
precipitation for the 15
December 2008
The
following summary describes the heat and dryness across the state for the 1-,
3-, 6-, 12-, 24-, 36-, and 48-month periods.
SUMMARY
November
precipitation was near average across most of the state, with the central
watersheds somewhat wetter than average, and the
The 3-month period,
September through November, was much drier than average in all watersheds,
except the lower
The 6-month period,
from June through November, continued to be wetter than average in the southern
half of the state, and drier than average in the northern half of the
state. The wet conditions in the south
are due to the wet monsoon, which did not move into northern
The 12-month period
continues to be the wettest interval with 14 watersheds above the 48th
percentile, and four watersheds above the 75th percentile. Only the Virgin watershed is drier than
average. Temperatures were slightly
warmer than average in northern
The 24-month period
was wetter than average in the Salt, upper and lower Gila and San Simon
watersheds, near average in the upper Colorado, San Pedro, and Whitewater Draw
watersheds, and drier than average in the other eight watersheds. The high variability is due to the difference
in storm tracks between the winters of 2007 and 2008, and monsoon activity in
the summers of 2007 and 2008.
Temperatures for the 24-month period are once again above the 75th
percentile across the state, with the warmest temperatures in Maricopa, Pinal,
and the southeastern counties.
The 36-month period
remains the driest long term period statewide, with the driest watersheds in
central
The 48-month period
has nine watersheds drier than average, five watersheds near average, and one
(lower Gila) wetter than average. The
driest watersheds continue to be the