Much of the area is rated in a D3 (extreme drought) or D4 (exceptional drought), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Bollinger said since this time last year there have been mostly abnormally dry conditions over the southwest region.
In June, temperatures reached record highs across the region.
June was much of the same, Bollinger said.
“I feel like I’m sounding like a broken record, but we’ve seen a lot of the warmer than average temperatures continue for most of this region,” she said.
“And the reason that warmer than average temperatures are going to be so important, in the region in wintertime it means your not going to be accumulating that snow pack that you really need to build up the water supply when we get to the summer.” The warmer than average temperatures increase the amount of evaporative losses, which worsens the dry conditions, she added.
“We haven’t seen enough precipitation to improve conditions widespread,” Bollinger said.
Bollinger said this is a more active fire season than normal, largely attributed to the drought conditions.
Drought means there’s no water for cattle, especially when ponds are drying up.” Ranchers are having to haul hay and water to cattle already in all the 4 Corners states.
Regional outlook “How do we get back to normal?” she said.