Severe long-term drought continues over most of the region, and nearly every month in 2026 up through July brought below normal precipitation. However, August brought an active monsoon pattern with well above average totals in most of the area. The station total of 1.66" in August was one of the lower totals in the state. At this point, immediate conditions remain moderately dry with fire danger very high at lower elevations and moderate to high across the higher terrain.