------------------------------------------------------------------------ 000 AXGM70 PGUM 301359 CCA DGTGUM DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT...Corrected NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TIYAN GU 1130 PM CHST FRI OCT 30 2020 PMZ173-130400- POHNPEI- 1130 PM CHST FRI OCT 30 2020 ...EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT CONTINUES ON KAPINGAMARANGI... .SYNOPSIS... Little has changed with the synoptic pattern the last month or so. Disturbances embedded in the trade flow have spread steady rounds of showers across all islands north of 4N. The monsoon trough has made a few appearances but has been largely confined to far western Micronesia. Westward-drifting upper lows have enhanced shower intensity and coverage at times. This is all typical of a La Nina pattern. Dry weather continued at Kapingamarangi in far southern Pohnpei state as weather-producing features anchored farther north near Pohnpei and to the south across New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Kapingamarangi has only received 4.67" of rain since August 1st with only ~1.73" since September 1st. Dry conditions are likely to continue the next several weeks due to the robust La Nina pattern. See the "local drought outlook" section below for additional details regarding the exceptional drought on Kapingamarangi. Recent rainfall (inches) across Micronesia: % of normal (norm) based on 1981-2010 rainfall normals (averages) Jan-Jul Aug Sep Oct 1-28 Oct 1-28 norm(%) norm(%) norm(%) norm(%) RMI WSO Majuro 120 87 93 16.61 125 Wotje 105 242 65 14.64 168 Kwajalein/Ebeye 92 50 142 15.38 130 Ailinglaplap 108 47 153 25.88 236 Jaluit 88 43 51 11.35 102 FSM Kosrae airport 117 79 104 16.58 144 WSO Pohnpei 89 95 101 18.28 120 Nukuoro 96 69 54 10.15 98 Kapingamarangi 72 28 9 0.87 11 WSO Chuuk 76 91 153 10.57 93 Lukunor 80 80 131 11.83 105 WSO Yap 73 69 80 9.21 75 Woleai 79 69 79 8.69 87 Ulithi 93 65 69 11.05 107 ROP WSO Palau 84 147 44 19.82 163 Marianas Guam airport 81 74 77 16.27 138 Rota airport 59 70 129 16.62 136 Tinian airport 52 51 85 10.42 93 Saipan airport 52 73 73 10.96 97 .SUMMARY OF IMPACTS... *D4 Exceptional short-term drought* Kapingamarangi in Pohnpei State As of 27 October, five of the six primary water tanks on Kapingamarangi are empty and vegetation is mostly brown. For the latest drought map for the US Affiliated Pacific Islands visit: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?usapi .DROUGHT MITIGATION ACTIONS... Residents of Kapingamarangi submitted an urgent request for water on the 1st of October. The Federated States Ship (FSS), "Independence" arrived several days later with 730 gallons of potable water. Efforts are being made to use the ship`s desalinization unit to refill Kapingamarangi`s empty water tanks. For more information on the formal and urgent request for water please see: https://reliefweb.int/report/micronesia-federated-states/fsm-pohnpei- governments-jointly-respond-water-emergency A second relief trip departed Pohnpei Oct 30 to bring additional water and food supplies. Attempts will be made to fill the empty water tanks with the ship`s desalinization unit. Dry weather is likely to continue at Kapingamarangi. Residents are urged to conserve drinking water. .LOCAL DROUGHT OUTLOOK... Kapingamarangi: A trade-wind disturbance may bring a few showers to Kapingamarangi the weekend of Oct 31st-Nov 1st. Otherwise dry weather is expected to continue for the next several weeks with rainfall remaining well-below adequate. As has been the case the last couple months, most disturbances will pass to the north with rainfall primarily near and north of 5N. .NEXT ISSUANCE DATE... The next Drought Information Statement will be issued Friday November 13, 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------