The bad news: New Mexico is still on top when it comes to having the worst and most widespread drought conditions in the nation.
The good news: Recent rains have offered some relief for the parched state.
A map released Thursday by federal forecasters shows less than two-fifths of New Mexico is now suffering from exceptional drought. It has been more than two months since the state has dropped below that 40 percent mark.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque say June finally produced above-normal precipitation over a large portion of the state. Still, many communities saw only a fraction of their normal snow and rain for the first six months of the year.
Forecasters say the 36-month period ending in June was both the driest and warmest on record.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.