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Click here for graphic showing U.S. Department of Commerce logo and link to site Climate of 2002 - August
Arizona Drought

National Climatic Data Center, 13 September 2002

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August continued a pattern of dry weather for the state, marking the 12th consecutive month with below-normal precipitation. The persistent dryness has resulted in the driest February-August to September-August seasons on record (see table below).

As reported by The Arizona Republic,

The drought-stricken Colorado River delivered barely one-eighth the amount of water needed to supply Arizona, Nevada and California this year, leaving the three states to draw heavily on water stored in Lakes Mead and Powell. The lakes normally store a four- to five-year supply of water for the three lower Colorado River Basin states. But storage has fallen to about 65 percent of normal, and lake levels have plunged.

Statewide Precipitation Ranks
for Arizona , 2001-2002
Period Rank
Aug 7th driest
Jul-Aug 6th driest
Jun-Aug 3rd driest
May-Aug 3rd driest
Apr-Aug 2nd driest
Mar-Aug 2nd driest
Feb-Aug 1st driest
Jan-Aug 1st driest
Dec-Aug 1st driest
Nov-Aug 1st driest
Oct-Aug 1st driest
Sep-Aug 1st driest
Click here for graphic showing Arizona statewide precipitation departures, January 1998 - present
larger image

Click here for graphic showing Arizona statewide Palmer Z Index, January 1998 - present
larger image

Click here for graphic showing Arizona statewide precipitation, Sept-August    1895-2002
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Click here for graphic showing Arizona statewide Palmer Hydrological Drought Index, January 1900 - August    2002
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Graphic showing NOAA logo NCDC / Clim. Monitoring / Climate-2002 / Aug / U.S. Regional Drought / Search / Help

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