National Climatic Data Center, 15 January 2004

Precipitation (in inches below) at several stations in southeast Arizona during the last 6 years (1998-2003) has been on par with, or even below, that which was received during the heart of the 1950's drought (1950-1956).

YEAR                  SAFFORD      TOMBSTONE        DOUGLAS

1950                     3.64          10.84          11.31
1951                     9.26           6.86          12.19
1952                     6.69             -           12.10
1953                     5.58           6.11          10.50
1954                     8.95          14.88           9.54
1955                     6.19          18.77          15.92
1956                     4.17           8.89           4.18
      7-Year Average     6.35          11.06          10.82

1998                     7.65          10.22           9.36
1999                     7.58          14.08           9.12
2000 *                   9.79          19.20          13.31
2001                     5.67          11.89           9.71
2002                     5.63           9.57           9.28
2003                     4.49           9.65           6.70
      6-Year Average     6.80          12.44           9.58


     Historical Mean     9.12          14.26          12.96
                   (1948-2003)    (1893-2003)    (1948-2003)


* The 2000 totals are misleadingly large due to a decaying October tropical
  system that stalled over the region.

Reservoir levels in the region also remain well below average.

Also, dry conditions in northeast Arizona have raised concern about the upcoming 2004 fire season.