This pretty much sums it up......... check out the third sentence
http://www.azcentral.com
Valley approaches sixth-longest dry spell on record
Michael Clancy
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 8, 2005 12:00 AM
At times last winter, Phoenix got so much rain that washes flooded, reservoirs filled and fears of a long-term drought dried up.
But nine mostly parched months later, the Phoenix area has fallen behind the year-to-date average.
It hasn't rained in the Valley for more than seven weeks, and no storms are on the horizon before Christmas or the end of the year. advertisement
The last measurable rainfall took place on Oct. 17, when 0.17 of an inch fell at the official monitoring station at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The year began with such promise. Almost 5 inches of rain fell in January and February. It looked like 2005 was on track to exceed the yearly average of slightly more than 8 inches.
But in the next nine months, only August, with a monsoon-driven 1.21 inches, surpassed the norm.
Not everything is bad news. Plenty of rain in other parts of the state, which has filled the Verde and Salt rivers regularly, has kept the Salt River reservoirs relatively full, limiting the impact of drought on the Phoenix area. And early snowfall in Colorado and Wyoming holds promise for filling up Lakes Mead and Powell. Both are about half-full now.
Southeast and central Arizona are currently the only parts of the state at risk for drought. The National Weather Service lists those areas as "likely" for drought development.
That area includes the Valley, where Wednesday marked the 51st consecutive day with no rain. If Phoenix reaches the end of the year without rain, it will be the sixth-longest dry spell in recorded history, according to data from Randy Cerveny, an Arizona State University climatologist.
Go three days into next year without rain, and the dry spell will reach the top five, with 78 straight days of no rain.
The all-time record dry spell ran for 91 days, from Jan. 6 to April 5, 1984.
Although rain in Phoenix does not greatly affect the city's water supply, which mainly comes from the reservoirs on the Salt and Colorado rivers, it does keep plants watered, holds dust down and washes pollution out of the air, a problem for the Phoenix area so far this season.
The silver lining, even if there are no dark clouds, is that the state's high country and Colorado River Valley have had a decent year of rain.
Flagstaff and Payson are 2½ inches above average, and Prescott is more than 3 inches above normal. Yuma and Parker also are more than 2 inches above average.
Likewise, Colorado and Wyoming have had good early snowfall, which will melt into the Colorado River.
Phoenix forecasters looking ahead to the end of the month are saying chances are slim for rain. Looking ahead, they predict a 50-50 chance for normal rainfall this winter, which starts in two weeks. That is an improvement from an earlier prediction of a dry winter.
Nancy Selover, assistant ASU climatologist, said a normally wet winter would bode well for the Salt River lakes, currently 82 percent full.
According to the monthly climate report prepared by state climatologist Andrew Ellis, most of the state has been above normal for rainfall all year, except for southeastern and east-central Arizona.
Those areas, including the Phoenix and Tucson areas, will continue to experience drought conditions, he said.
Kind of makes you want a tall glass of ice water.
The posts in this forum are NOT official forecast and should not be used as such. They are just the opinion of the poster and may or may not be backed by sound meteorological data. They are NOT endorsed by any professional institution or 
I have pre dialed 911 on my cellphone just in case I have to hold my breath until NEXT winter (which according to the lastest I heard on the news this morning, "IS" going to be the case, "NO SNOW" for the entire winter!") I have never seen a winter without snow but as they say, "Anything is possible!" I mean, look at the hurricane season!!
Today and the REST of the week is supposed to be WAY above normal temps etc. blah, blah, BLAH