Spring is typically the driest time of year in Arizona, and the lack of rainfall over the last two months has caused our drought to worsen.
Unfortunately, little to no improvement is expected before the monsoon arrives this summer.
Seventy percent of the state is now in severe or extreme drought. That is a big jump from the 44 percent reported last month by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
This time last year, severe or extreme drought covered 67 percent of the state.
Phoenix has only received 67 percent of the normal average rainfall from October 1st to May 15th.
In that same time, Yuma received 78 percent of normal rainfall, Tucson received 55 percent of normal and Flagstaff received 72 percent of normal.
Here's how the drought conditions break-down around our state:
Extreme Drought - across central Arizona, specifically northwest Maricopa county.
Severe Drought - across central and southwest Arizona, specifically in western Maricopa county, western Pinal county, far eastern La Paz county and much of Yuma county.
Moderate Drought - across parts of central and southwest Arizona, specifically in parts of eastern Maricopa and Pinal counties and portions of Yuma and La Paz counties.
Abnormally Dry - across parts of central and southwest Arizona, specifically in western La Paz county, parts of eastern Maricopa county and southern Gila county .