------------------------------------------------------------------------ 000 AXGM70 PGUM 050114 AAA DGTGUM DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TIYAN GU 1115 AM CHST SAT SEP 5 2020 GUZ002>004-PMZ152>154-PMZ173-PMZ181-180400- ROTA-TINIAN-SAIPAN-POHNPEI-MAJURO- 1115 AM CHST SAT SEP 5 2020 Updated to include worsening conditions on Kapingamarangi. See the `Summary of Impacts` for the latest details provided by WSO Pohnpei. ...SEVERE DROUGHT ON KAPINGAMARANGI AND WOTJE... ...ADEQUATE SHOWERS FINALLY RETURN TO THE CNMI... .SYNOPSIS... A weak to moderate monsoon trough meandered along ~10N the past couple of weeks for western Micronesia. Although the monsoon trough stretched eastward at times, trade flow and embedded circulations were the fixture for eastern Micronesia. Chuuk and the Marianas were between these features during the past few weeks. Circulations were plentiful but most remained largely disorganized, with the exception of a couple that became better organized over the Philippine Sea. These disorganized circulations produced spotty heavy showers across the northern Marshalls, with Wotje in particular receiving 242% of normal August rainfall. The Marianas experienced an impressive rainfall event during the afternoon of Aug 27 when the monsoon trough lifted through the area. On Guam, rainfall totals for the 3- day period exceeded 15 inches in some locations. Showery weather lingered through the morning of Aug 29. The CNMI also received beneficial rains but totals were considerably lower. This 3 day event brought August monthly rainfall much closer to normal for Guam and the CNMI. Kapingamarangi remained in a dry pattern as large-scale weather features sat farther north near Pohnpei and to the south across New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Recent rainfall (inches) across Micronesia: % of normal based on 1981- 2010 rainfall normals (averages) Jan-Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Norm(%) Norm(%) Norm(%) RMI WSO Majuro 123 12.85 108 9.97 87 Wotje 110 3.58 83 12.71 242 Kwajalein/Ebeye 92 8.82 90 5.24 50 Ailinglaplap 112 10.56 92 5.04 47 Jaluit 91 9.23 73 4.88 43 FSM Kosrae airport 122 14.26 89 11.64 79 WSO Pohnpei 95 9.53 59 14.08 95 Kapingamarangi 78 5.59 42 2.94 28 WSO Chuuk 78 7.77 63 12.20 91 Lukunor 80 13.18 80 11.35 80 Fananu -- 8.79 81 9.60 75 WSO Yap 81 7.71 51 10.61 69 Woleai 72 13.81 110 10.34 69 Ulithi 97 9.61 81 10.20 65 ROP WSO Palau 94 10.13 51 22.13 147 Marianas Guam airport 81 8.26 68 12.68 74 Rota airport 59 4.48 42 9.17 70 Tinian airport 52 4.97 48 6.40 51 Saipan airport 52 5.11 62 8.88 73 .SUMMARY OF IMPACTS... *D2 Severe short and/or long-term drought* Pohnpei State: Kapingamarangi Republic of the Marshall Islands: Wotje and Utirik For the latest drought map for the US Affiliated Pacific Islands visit https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?usapi Via WSO Pohnpei...Observers on Kapingamarangi report household water tanks are ~10% of capacity and some are empty. Some of the community water tanks have been tapped. Vegetation has started yellowing. .DROUGHT MITIGATION ACTIONS... Marshall Islands: Wotje and Utirik have reverse osmosis units on site. Rainfall was also well above normal for Wotje last month. Pohnpei State: Dry weather looks to continue at Kapingamarangi. Residents are urged to conserve drinking water. .LOCAL DROUGHT OUTLOOK... Marshall Islands: Recent heavy rainfall has resulted inimproved drought conditions at Wotje and Utirik. Weak disturbances should bring near-adequate rainfall to much of the Marshall Islands the next couple weeks. Numerical models indicate between 3.5 and 6 inches for most areas of the Marshall Islands in the coming 10 days. Pohnpei State: A dry weather pattern will remain in place at Kapingamarangi the next couple weeks. Passing disturbances will keep to the north as they head westward. Well below-adequate rainfall will continue in the coming weeks with around a half inch of rain expected the next 10 days. Marianas: Expect near or just below-adequate rainfall the next couple weeks. A relatively drier weather pattern is in place the next two weeks, but weak disturbances should provide sufficient rainfall. Due to recent heavier rainfall amounts, the drought conditions across the CNMI have improved and thus this will be the last Drought Information Statement for the CNMI. We`ll keep a close watch on conditions there should a longer-range drier pattern re-emerge. .NEXT ISSUANCE DATE... The next Drought Information Statement will be issued Friday September 18, 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: 671-472-0953 e-mail: brandon.bukunt@noaa.gov / marcus.aydlett@noaa.gov $$ Bukunt/Aydlett ------------------------------------------------------------------------