------------------------------------------------------------------------ 000 AXGM70 PGUM 240416 DGTGUM DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TIYAN GU 200 PM CHST FRI JUL 24 2020 GUZ001>004-PMZ173-PMZ181-070400- GUAM-ROTA-TINIAN-SAIPAN-POHNPEI-MAJURO- 200 PM CHST FRI JUL 24 2020 ...EXTREME TO EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT CONTINUES FOR THE CNMI AND NORTHERN MARSHALL ISLANDS... ...SEVERE DROUGHT PERSISTS ON KAPINGAMARANGI... .SYNOPSIS... A relatively wet pattern the last couple weeks characterized by weak surface troughs and disturbances within the ITCZ and the TUTT cells to the north, brought much needed rainfall to most locations across Micronesia. Drought conditions have eased a bit at most locations, but severe to extreme drought persists at Wotje, Utirik and Kapingamarangi. Exceptional drought continues at Tinian and Saipan. Showers have become more frequent across the Marianas but tend to be brief and limited in coverage, thus keeping accumulations low. Regional rainfall totals have been near or below adequate, for most locations, so far this month. Recent rainfall (inches) across Micronesia: % of normal based on 1981- 2010 rainfall normals (averages) Jan-May Jun Jun Jul Jul Norm(%) Norm(%) 1-22 Norm(1-22%) RMI WSO Majuro 124 12.83 117 10.24 121 Wotje 121 4.66 83 2.32 76 Kwajalein/Ebeye 97 6.09 77 7.56 108 Ailinglapalap 95 18.09 166 8.02 98 Jaluit 96 6.81 66 8.10 90 FSM Kosrae airport 99 23.64 152 8.14 72 WSO Pohnpei 73 11.70 74 5.24 46 Kapingamarangi 86 5.87 45 3.94 42 WSO Chuuk 75 11.45 94 5.56 63 Lukunor 76 11.34 95 6.77 58 Fananu -- 7.19 70 5.50 72 WSO Yap 57 18.56 141 5.19 49 Woleai 67 11.25 90 13.49 151 Ulithi 102 8.67 85 6.80 81 ROP WSO Palau 97 14.21 83 5.93 42 Marianas Guam airport 93 3.40 48 4.85 56 Rota airport 62 2.33 45 2.36 31 Tinian airport 56 1.83 36 4.28 58 Saipan airport 55 1.96 44 3.29 56 .SUMMARY OF IMPACTS... *D4 Exceptional short and long-term drought* Mariana Islands: Saipan and Tinian *D3 Extreme short and long-term drought* Republic of the Marshall Islands: Wotje and Utirik Mariana islands: Rota and the northern CNMI. *D2 Severe short-term drought* Pohnpei State: Kapingamarangi For the latest drought map for the US Affiliated Pacific Islands visit https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?usapi Agricultural impacts still persist across the northern Marshall Islands and the CNMI. Recent reports from Saipan indicate wildfire occurrences in the CNMI have been reduced, likely from the increased frequency of showers. Residents of Kapingamarangi report household water tanks are around 25% capacity. Residents of Wotje in the Marshall Islands report water tanks around 50% capacity. .DROUGHT MITIGATION ACTIONS... Marshall Islands: Wotje and Utirik have reverse osmosis units on site. Pohnpei State: Dry weather is expected to continue at Kapingamarangi. Residents still urged to conserve drinking water. Mariana Islands: Officials across the CNMI report water levels are still above thresholds for concern. .LOCAL DROUGHT OUTLOOK... Marshall Islands: Expect a lull in the moist trade-wind pattern through this weekend across the Marshall Islands. A wetter trade-wind pattern will resume by midweek to much of the southern and central RMI. Rainfall is expected to be near-adequate the next couple weeks at Majuro and Kwajalein with 10-day rainfall totals estimated to be around 3 to 4 inches. Less rainfall is expected farther north at Wotje and Utirik with 10 day rainfall totals around 2 to 2.5 inches. Pohnpei State: Dry conditions at Kapingamarangi will persist in the coming weeks as numerical models indicate below-adequate rainfall. A couple weak disturbances toward the end of this 2-week period could bring some needed rainfall. However, 10 day rainfall totals indicate only between 2 and 2.5 inches of rain. Marianas: Recent showers have maintained adequate or above-adequate rainfall for Guam. This trend is expected to continue in the coming weeks, therefore Guam will not be included in subsequent Drought Information Statements. Farther north, while showers have increased, rainfall remains below adequate at Saipan, Tinian and Rota. A wetter couple weeks is expected across the CNMI as passing TUTT cells to the north and weak disturbances to the south pass by, bringing periods of scattered showers. 10 day rainfall totals indicate around 3.5 inches of rainfall. Locally higher amounts are possible with thunderstorms. .NEXT ISSUANCE DATE... The next Drought Information Statement will be issued Friday August 7, 2020 or sooner if necessary. .RELATED WEBSITES: -US Drought Monitor for the United States Affiliated Pacific Islands- https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?usapi -National Weather Service Guam- https://www.weather.gov/gum/Hydrology -Pacific ENSO Applications Climate (PEAC) Services- https://www.weather.gov/peac -Climate Prediction Center Global Tropics Hazards and Benefits Outlook- https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/precip/CWlink/ghazards/ -Coral reef watch satellite monitoring- https://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/index.php .ACKNOWLEDGMENTS... This drought statement is a combined effort involving regional National Weather Service offices, Richard Heim and the USAPI drought monitor team at NCEI, Chip Guard at Tropical Weather Sciences, the Climate Prediction Center, PEAC services, the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Mark Lander at University of Guam, USAID subregional offices and the NOAA/NESDIS coral reef watch program. .QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PRODUCT? PLEASE CONTACT: National Weather Service 3232 Hueneme Road Barrigada, GU 96913 http://www.weather.gov/gum phone: 671-472-0950 e-mail: brandon.bukunt@noaa.gov / marcus.aydlett@noaa.gov $$ Aydlett/Bukunt ------------------------------------------------------------------------