Drought Information Statement for the  Mojave Desert and Eastern Sierra 
Valid October 17, 2025
Issued By: WFO Las Vegas, NV
Contact Information: nws.lasvegas@noaa.gov

This product will be updated November 20, 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.

Healthy late-monsoon and hurricane-related precipitation allowed for drought improvements in parts of the Mojave Desert. 

Well-above normal precipitation was observed across most of the forecast area over the last 30 days. 


U.S. Drought Monitor
Drought Intensity and Extent
D4 (Exceptional Drought): None. 
D3 (Extreme Drought): Central Nye County, western Lincoln County, far northern Mohave County. 
D2 (Severe Drought): Most of Lincoln and Mohave counties, northwestern Clark County, northeastern San Bernardino County, far eastern Esmeralda, and Inyo counties. 
D1 (Moderate Drought): Most of San Bernardino County, sections of central Inyo and Esmeralda counties, Clark and Mohave counties along the Arizona/Nevada state line. 
D0 (Abnormally Dry): The Eastern Sierra, Owens Valley, and White Mountains in Inyo County, far western Esmeralda County. 


Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 

Drought Worsened: No degradation was observed. 
 
No Change: Most of southern Nevada, southeastern California, and northwestern Arizona. 

Drought Improved: Death Valley in eastern Inyo County, eastern Clark County and western Mohave County along the Arizona/Nevada state line, sections of southern Mohave County and eastern San Bernardino County near the Colorado River.  


Precipitation

30-day precipitation totals are above-average for most of the area due to an active monsoon season and tropical activity in late-September and early-October.  
Remnant moisture from Hurricane Priscilla resulted in widespread rainfall between October 9 and 11. 
An early season winter storm on October 13 and 14 brought 6 to 12 inches of snow in the Sierra and 2 to 4 inches of snow in the Spring Mountains. 


Temperature

Average maximum temperatures have been near-to-below normal over the last 30 days. 


Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
Lake Mead is at 1,057.69 feet in elevation, or 32 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
Clark County School District is replacing grass with artificial turf for all high school athletic fields to reduce water usage.   

Mitigation Actions
Southern Nevada Water Authority is on the fall landscape watering schedule through the end of October.  


Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts

Lake Mead is at 1,057.69 feet in elevation, or 32% full. 
Lake Mohave is at 637.65 feet in elevation, or 86% full. 
Lake Havasu is at 447.92 feet in elevation, or 93% full. 
The Bureau of Reclamation 24-month study indicates that Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, and Lake Havasu elevations will decrease through December. 


Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
There is a 40 to 50% probability of above-normal temperatures across the area through January 31. 
There are equal chances for above and below-normal precipitation in most of southeastern California and southern Nevada through January 31.  
There is a 33 to 40% probability of below-normal precipitation in northwestern Arizona through January 31.


Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Drought is expected to persist through at least January 31, 2026 for most of southern Nevada, northwestern Arizona, and southeastern California. 
Links to the latest:
Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook 
Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook