ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — National Weather Service forecasters say moderate drought conditions have returned to western New Mexico while abnormal dryness is expanding in other parts of the state.
State and federal water and land managers are meeting today to discuss the latest outlook. They say statewide precipitation for February was well below normal, with New Mexico seeing an average of only 52 percent of the moisture it typically sees.
Despite little moisture so far this month and strong winds, the forecast calls for things to improve in April with above normal precipitation expected across the state.
Still, experts say drought is expected to persist in the southwest at least through June.
The picture is still better than a year ago, when nearly threequarters of the state were dealing with some form of drought.
