New Mexico Faces Crippling Drought

According to the US Drought Monitor, New Mexico faces the worst possible kind of drought along the Mexican border. Its official designation is “exceptional drought,” which means “exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells creating water emergencies.”

100-degree heat index temperatures have also hit the area. They will top that today in Carlsbad, NM.

It is hard to gauge how much the temperature will affect commerce. The area is known for mining and oil and gas production.

Several regions’ cities are good examples of urban areas facing extreme heat. Summer temperatures are often above 100 degrees. The need for air conditioning stresses the grid. Outdoor work is curtailed. Hospitals are often overrun with people whose bodies have overheated. Cities have started to provide facilities for large numbers of people who do not have access to air conditioning.

Carlsbad has to deal with heat problems and now drought problems as well.

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