PHOENIX - Extreme drought now covers one-third of the state, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The Arizona Department of Water Resources released the numbers Thursday, showing that Southeast California and the entire state of Arizona are under drought conditions ranging from moderate to extreme.
The report says 84 percent of Arizona is experiencing severe drought conditions. And as of Tuesday, March 22, Gila County and much of the Valley were under extreme drought conditions.
The good news is that we're not seeing exceptional drought, which is the highest level, in any part of the state.
The drought conditions are expected to persist or worsen, as we don’t anticipate a lot of rain in the near future, 12 News Meteorologist Lindsay Riley says.