After facing intense drought for several consecutive years, the state of Durango is finally free of drought conditions, according to the latest Mexican Drought Monitor, released by the National Water Commission (Conagua) and compiled in conjunction with the National Meteorological Service (SMN).
According to the most recent report, as of September 30, 2025, published on October 4, Durango has a small yellow area on the map, indicating an “abnormally dry” condition. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is experiencing drought. This is good news, as this marks a notable recovery from the prolonged drought that affected the state from 2020 until May of this year.
Comparative images from September 2023, June 2024, and May 2025 show how the state went from experiencing large regions of extreme and exceptional drought to being almost completely gray, representing a complete absence of drought.
This improvement represents significant relief for the agricultural and livestock sectors and for rural communities, which for years suffered the impacts of water shortages. It also opens up opportunities for the recovery of ecosystems, water bodies, and aquifer recharge, especially in regions that previously showed signs of severe water stress.
Precipitation in 2025 favored recovery
Precipitation records for 2025 show that Durango still faced a significant water shortage between January and May, which kept the state at risk in terms of agriculture and water availability.
However, starting in June 2025, rainfall began to normalize compared to historical monthly averages, marking the beginning of a notable recovery. According to official data, a surplus of 2.2% was recorded in June, followed by 28% in July, 7.4% in August, and a remarkable 42.4% in September.
This behavior largely explains the improvement observed in the Drought Monitor, allowing virtually the entire state of Durango to emerge from drought conditions, with the exception of a small area classified as “abnormally dry,” indicating an area in transition to normal conditions.
Source: oem
