NM in need of storm during severe drought

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - New Mexico is in need of storm track on steroids

The National Weather Service says 90 percent of New Mexico is in a severe drought and Curry, Roosevelt and Union counties are in the worst drought possible classification-exceptional.

National Weather Service meteorologist, Ed Polasko says New Mexico's fall including September, October and November were the third driest fall on record and those records go back more than 100 years.

Another indicator of just how dry it is came late last month when it was announced Elephant Butte was at its lowest level in eight years.

Polasko says the snow pack is in dire shape too.

"We are at ground zero,” Polasko said. “We really haven't started the snow melt accumulation process and we should be well on the way."

The Forest Service is desperately trying to clear out dead brush and fuels in the Bosque. Over the weekend inmates worked in Pena Blanca clearing brush. 

However, Polasco says there is one bright spot and that New Mexico is not in a true La Nina, which would bring very dry conditions with high winds and that is a formula for wildfires.
 
The NWS says the first 10 months of this year were the sixth driest on record.