Drought Information Statement for Mojave Desert and Eastern Sierra 
Valid November 15, 2024
Issued By: WFO Las Vegas, NV
Contact Information: nws.lasvegas@noaa.gov

This product will be updated December 19, 2024 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.
A hot and dry summer and fall worsened drought conditions across southern Nevada, southeastern California, and northwestern Arizona. 
Extreme drought has expanded up the Colorado River Valley and may continue to expand if a dry winter pattern unfolds. 


U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought intensity and Extent
D3 (Extreme Drought): Colorado River Valley in extreme southern Mohave County and southeastern San Bernardino County. 
D2 (Severe Drought): Clark County, southern Lincoln and Nye counties, eastern Esmeralda County, western Mohave County, far eastern San Bernardino County. 
D1 (Moderate Drought): Southern Nye County, western Esmeralda County, northern Lincoln County, eastern Mohave County, eastern San Bernardino County, northern and eastern Inyo County. 
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Southern Inyo County, western Esmeralda County, far northern Lincoln County, western San Bernardino County.


Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 
Drought Worsened: Colorado River Valley in California and Arizona, sections of Esmeralda, southern Nye,eastern Clark,  northern and eastern Inyo, and eastern San Bernardino counties. 
 
No Change: Most of southern Nevada, southeastern California, and northwestern Arizona. 

Drought Improved: No improvement was observed. 

Precipitation
Outside of northern Mohave and eastern Lincoln counties, most other areas received a few hundredths of an inch or no measurable rainfall over the last 30 days. 


Temperature
After a hot summer and early fall, maximum temperatures over the last 7 days have been 4 or more degrees below normal. 
Maximum temperatures over the last 30 days have been near normal for most of southern Nevada, southeastern California, and northwestern Arizona. 


Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
Lake Mead is at 1,061.14 feet in elevation, or 33 percent full. 

Agricultural Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time.

Fire Hazard Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time.

Other Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time.

Mitigation Actions
Watering restrictions are in place by the Southern Nevada Water Authority. 


Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Lake Mead is at 1,061.14 feet in elevation, or 33% full. 
Lake Mohave is at 637.35 feet in elevation, or 85% full. 
Lake Havasu is at 447.63 feet in elevation, or 93% full. 
The Bureau of Reclamation 24-month study suggests a rise in Lake Mead and Mohave through January, and a slight decrease in Lake Havasu. 


Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
Light precipitation is forecast for November 15 and 16 with the passage of a weather system. This includes light snowfall above 5000 feet in elevation. 
Additional light precipitation is possible in eastern Lincoln and northern Mohave counties on Monday, November 18. Afterwards, no precipitation is forecast through November 21. 


Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
There is a 33 to 50% probability of above normal temperatures through January 31, 2025. 
In Mohave County, there is a 33 to 40% chance of below normal precipitation through January 31, 2025. The remainder of the forecast area has equal chances of above or below normal precipitation. 


Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Drought is expected to persist through January 31, 2025 for most of southern Nevada, northwestern Arizona, and eastern San Bernardino County.