Drought Information Statement for Mojave Desert and Eastern Sierra 
Valid March 22, 2025
Issued By: WFO Las Vegas, NV
Contact Information: nws.lasvegas@noaa.gov

This product will be updated April 17, 2025 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly.  
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/VEF/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates.
Despite a handful of winter systems between late February and March, precipitation is still below normal for most of the area. 
Drought conditions have negatively impacted native plants and wildlife in southern Nevada. 

U.S. Drought Monitor
Drought intensity and Extent
D4 (Exceptional Drought): Areas around the Bill Williams River and Lake Mead. 
D3 (Extreme Drought): Most of Clark, Mohave, and Lincoln counties, central Nye County, eastern San Bernardino County, and Death Valley in Inyo County. 
D2 (Severe Drought): Esmeralda County, northern Lincoln County, sections of central Inyo and San Bernardino counties, and the Spring Mountains in Clark County. 
D1 (Moderate Drought): Western San Bernardino County, sections of central Inyo County, western Esmeralda County. 
D0 (Abnormally Dry): The Eastern Sierra, Owens Valley, and White Mountains in Inyo County. 


Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Link to the latest 4-week change map for Southwestern United States
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 

Drought Worsened: Along the Bill Williams River in southern Mohave County. 
 
No Change: The remainder of southern Nevada, southeastern California, and northwestern Arizona. 

Drought Improved: No widespread improvement was observed. 

Precipitation
The second half of February was largely dry. 
Despite two precipitation systems in early and mid March, precipitation remained below normal for most of the area. 
Several inches of snow fell over the southern Great Basin along with 1 to 2 feet over the Sierra and Spring Mountains. 


Temperature
Maximum temperatures over the last 7 days have been below normal for most of the forecast area. 
Maximum temperatures over the last 30 days have been within a few degrees of normal across the area. 


Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
Lake Mead is at 1,067.53 feet in elevation, or 34 percent full. 

Agricultural Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time.

Fire Hazard Impacts
Accumulation of invasive plants at Cathedral Gorge State Park poses a serious fire hazard. 

Other Impacts
Bighorn sheep in Valley of Fire State Park have been hit hard by a lack of surface water and sparse desert flora. Water hauls to man-made reservoirs known as guzzlers are occurring to help the sheep. The current density of sheep in the nearby Muddy Mountains is unsustainable. 
Deer and elk in Spring Valley State Park did not migrate from their usual spring and summer habitat due to  a lack of winter rain and snowfall, which limits their food availability this spring and summer.
Lack of precipitation has led to an increase in invasive species and a reduction in the yield and quality of native plants at Cathedral Gorge State Park. This also impacts biodiversity of native animals, insects, and microorganisms.  

Mitigation Actions
Southern Nevada Water Authority switched to the spring landscape watering schedule.  


Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Lake Mead is at 1,067.53 feet in elevation, or 34% full. 
Lake Mohave is at 643.51 feet in elevation, or 95% full. 
Lake Havasu is at 447.73 feet in elevation, or 93% full. 
The Bureau of Reclamation 24-month study suggests decrease in Lake Mead late spring and summer. Lake Mohave and Lake Havasu remain steady. 


Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
Light showers may reach parts of the Eastern Sierra and southern Great Basin.  
The remainder of the forecast area will remain dry. 


Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
There is a 33 to 60% probability of above normal temperatures across the area through June 30, with the greatest probability in Mohave, Clark, and Lincoln counties. 
There is a 33 to 60% probability of below normal precipitation through June 30 for most of southern Nevada, southeastern California, and northwestern Arizona, with the greatest probability in northern Mohave County. 


Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Drought is expected to persist through June 30 for most of southern Nevada, northwestern Arizona, and southeastern California outside of the Eastern Sierra, Owens Valley, and White Mountains.