SANTA FE, New Mexico (AP) - May has been an unusual month for drought-stricken New Mexico, as cool and wet storms throughout the state have kept wildfires away but have also raised other safety concerns.
In the Cibola National Forest, officials are worried about the costly damage from an increased number of incidents, in which the wheels of motor vehicles spin deep ruts into off-road trails, The Santa Fe New Mexican (https://bit.ly/1IPyLyL ) reported Wednesday.
In southeastern cities like Clovis, strong downpours of rain and hail have caused flooding in the streets because of storm sewers being unable to hold the excess water.
Officials on Tuesday warned pedestrians and motorists using river crossings that water managers have added to the Santa Fe River flows by increasing the amount of water being released from Nichols Reservoir.
A combination of factors has contributed to the state’s recent weather trend. Experts note that the increased precipitation has not been enough to bring an end to the drought but say the recent weather pattern has brought some relief and increased hopes for a wet summer.
A major factor in the wetter and cooler weather has been the later-than-expected arrival of El Nino. Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced its arrival on March 5.
Kerry Jones, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said that in addition to El Nino, increased moisture has been due to there being “not a lot of delay between the (storm) systems, so we don’t dry out.”
He said wetter and cooler weather is not only hitting New Mexico, but the entire region as well. This year’s precipitation “definitely puts the fire season in check,” he said.
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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, https://www.sfnewmexican.com
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