Did recent storms put a dent in the Southwest's drought problem?

EADS, CO - AUGUST 22: A cow walk on a dried-up pond in a drought-ravaged pasture on August 22, 2012 near Eads, Colorado. The severe drought has dried up most of eastern Colorado's natural grassland, forcing many ranchers to sell off much of their livestock early to feedlots, which fatten up the cattle for slaughter. More than 50 percent of high plains areas of eastern Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas are still in extreme or exceptional drought, despite recent lower temperatures, according to the University of Nebraska's Drought Monitor. The record-breaking drought, which has affected more than half of the continental United States, is expected to drive up food prices by 2013 due to lower crop harvests and the adverse effect on the nation's cattle industry. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Earlier this summer in places like New Mexico and Arizona, temperatures were reaching record highs, cattle were dying and crops were drying up. So did those September storms do much to help the drought?

Given all the recent news about record rainfalls and flooding in Colorado, it's easy to forget that the Southwest has been in the throes of one of the most severe droughts in its recorded history.

Earlier this summer in places like New Mexico and Arizona, temperatures were reaching record highs, cattle were dying and crops were drying up. So did those September storms do much to help the drought?

For more we're joined by hydrologist Jay Famiglietti, a professor at UC Irvine and the director of the UC Center for Hydrologic modeling.