If you think it has been rainier than normal this year, you would be correct.
As Arizona continues to see frequent rain chances this winter, the National Weather Service shared some surprising precipitation numbers from the last couple of years.
In a tweet posted on March 14, the NWS shared how big of a difference the numbers were this year compared to last.
According to the graph, there was a big increase in precipitation around the High Country. For example, from Oct. 1, 2017 to March 14, 2019, Flagstaff received 4.44'' of precipitation. During those same dates in 2018-2019, Flagstaff received 17.19''.
Many of the other areas surrounding the High Country also saw significant increases in precipitation.
As far as the rain impact in the Phoenix area, the NWS said the 2019 water year is shaping up to be the sixth wettest water year to date in the period of record.
So in other words, we could see some more rainy days ahead.
And thanks to the above-average precipitation, most of Arizona is now drought-free, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
In higher elevations of the state, many lakes are full and spilling as snow melts, the Drought Monitor summary says.
The map shows 73 percent of the state is now back to normal conditions.
While the entire state was in severe, extreme and exceptional drought at the start of the water year in September 2018, only the northeastern part of the state remains in moderate or severe drought in March 2019.
Though dry conditions continue in parts of eastern Arizona, precipitation along the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains this winter improved things.
