------------------------------------------------------------------------ 000 AXGM70 PGUM 061019 CCB DGTGUM DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TIYAN GU 500 PM CHST FRI MAY 06 2022 PMZ181-200600- MAJURO- 500 PM CHST FRI MAY 06 2022 ...TRADE-WIND DISTURBANCES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SOME DROUGHT RELIEF FOR THE FAR NORTHERN MARSHALL ISLANDS... .SYNOPSIS: La Nina continues based on large-scale oceanic and atmospheric conditions. Transition to ENSO neutral has been delayed due to the ongoing easterly wind burst across much of the Pacific Ocean the last few months. The latest model and forecaster consensus suggests La Nina will persist through the summer months. For the northern Marshall Islands... Very wet ITCZ trade-wind weather across the central Marshall Islands continues to meander northward at times. This continues to deliver spurts of showery weather to the far northern Marshall Islands separated by stretches of dry weather. This pattern is forecast to continue for the foreseeable future, allowing drought conditions to ease further for the far northern Marshalls. Recent rainfall (inches) for select islands across the Republic of the Marshall Islands. % of monthly normal rainfall based on 1991-2020 data. Feb Feb Mar Mar Apr Apr May 1-5 % Norm % Norm % Norm Wotje 0.05 3 2.55 75 4.76 114 1.45 Kwajalein 6.45 161 11.07 243 8.21 118 1.23 Majuro 8.79 115 19.61 227 24.02 216 1.40 Ailinglaplap 6.70 130 21.82 333 24.49 343 1.61 Mili 8.12 108 22.32 223 28.49 209 1.43 Jaluit 5.83 94 23.64 232 12.26 113 0.82 .SUMMARY OF IMPACTS: *D2 Severe drought* -- Wotje and RMI atolls near and north of 9.5N For the latest drought map for the US Affiliated Pacific Islands visit https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?usapi --------------------------------------------- Northern Marshall Islands near and north of 9N: The observer on Wotje reports water catchment tanks are still around 50% of capacity and vegetation continues to green up. Conditions may vary quite a bit island to island but an overall wetter pattern in recent weeks has led to improved conditions. .DROUGHT MITIGATION ACTIONS: The Marshall Islands National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) continues to assess conditions on the northern islands alongside staff from WSO Majuro. .LOCAL DROUGHT OUTLOOK: Wotje and nearby atolls: Drought conditions should continue to improve. Global deterministic models (GFS/ECWMF) indicate 2" to 5" of rain through mid May. Exact rainfall amounts on each atoll will be highly dependent on exactly where shower and thunderstorm complexes develop. As a result, rainfall amounts may be higher or lower than 2 to 5 inches through mid May. .NEXT ISSUANCE DATE: The next Drought Information Statement will be issued Friday, May 20, 2022 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, 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------