Abnormal dryness continued this week in southwest Alaska, though the impacts of lacking snow cover there may be lessening some. In south-central and southeast Alaska, abnormal dryness also continued this week amid low snow levels.
In Hawaii, widespread drought and abnormal dryness continued this week. Wetter weather associated with trade winds and a remnant frontal system allowed for a reduction in moderate drought coverage in central Kauai. On the Big Island, severe drought in the north slightly increased in coverage due to short-term precipitation deficits and impacts to vegetation there.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) continues with the pattern of dryness that has been observed last week. Precipitation totals have remained very low across each member island, ranging from 0-0.67” of rain. Mili received no precipitation this week and Utirik received 0.67” of rain this week. The continual dryness has led to increasing concerns for all islands. Stations like Mili, Utirik, and Alingalapalap may potentially see one-category degradations next week, but will remain at the current classifications.
Most islands in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are seeing no drought or abnormal dryness. There are a few exceptions, though, as Yap and Pingelap continue with drought due to below average weekly precipitation. Kapingamarangi remains abnormally dry with 0.7” of rain. However, there are increasing concerns for some stations, as they may face the potential for abnormal dryness in the coming weeks if low weekly precipitation persists. Lukunor and Kosrae only received 0.11” and 0.33” this week, respectively. Data were not available for analysis at Fananu and Ulithi this week.
For the Marianas Islands, Saipan International Airport received 0.60” of rain Wednesday, marking the first week where precipitation has met the requisite 1” for the Saipan area, with 1.04” of rain. Whether this marks a change of pace for the Saipan area remains to be seen. Rota Airport has recorded 0.54” of rain as of this week. The Guam WFO has recorded 0.72” of rain this week as well. Both Guam and Rota recorded at least a half inch of rain this week, but the abnormal dryness classification will remain for these two sites. Overall, The Marianas Islands has started seeing beneficial precipitation that hasn’t been observed in a while.
The Republic of Palau has seen beneficial rains for many places last month. March 2025 monthly precipitation has been favorable for many parts of the large island of Babeldaob. For example, regions such as such as Melekeok and Ngeremlengui received anywhere from 8-10” of rain last month. The southern island of Peleliu also received satisfactory precipitation last month, between 6-8” of rain. Additionally, The WSO Palau station recorded 3.17” of rain this week. Koror has only received 0.67” of rain, but the pattern of precipitation is not consistently dry. Additionally, VHI levels have demonstrated to be satisfactory, with values ranging from 48 to 60 all around Babeldaob.
American Samoa has also seen good precipitation. Pago Pago has seen just under an inch of rain this week, at 0.92”. However, the Toa Ridge and Siufaga Ridge have not had any precipitation records for April. Given their precipitation totals for last month (10.62” and 2.65”), the situation for both ridges differs considerably. Given satisfactory precipitation measurements for the island of Tutuila, American Samoa currently remains free of drought or dryness.
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