August 30, 2022 National Drought Summary

The discussion in the Looking Ahead section is simply a description of what the official national guidance from the National Weather Service (NWS) National Centers for Environmental Prediction is depicting for current areas of dryness and drought. The NWS forecast products utilizedinclude the HPC 5-day QPF and 5-day Mean Temperature progs, the 6-10 Day Outlooks of Temperature and Precipitation Probability, and the 8-14Day Outlooks of Temperature and Precipitation Probability, valid as of late Wednesday afternoon of the USDM release week. The NWS forecast webpage used for this section is: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/forecasts/.

Weather Summary: Placeholder

Northeast: Placeholder

Southeast: Placeholder

South: Placeholder

Midwest: Placeholder

High Plains: Placeholder

West: Placeholder

Caribbean: Placeholder

Rainfall totals across St. Thomas (airport and CoCoRaHs stations) ranged between 0.27 inch to 1.10 inches. The airport had a month-to-date total of 5.84 inches, which is 144.6% of normal. Year-to-date was at 90.0% of normal. SPI values at the 1, 3, and 9 months were indicative of no drought, while the 6 and 12 months were indicative of abnormally dry conditions to moderate drought. Groundwater levels at the Grade School 3 Well had improved at the beginning of the month, but were steadily decreasing once again. For this reason, long-term severe drought persisted in St. Thomas.

Similarly, long-term severe drought persisted across St. Croix. Rainfall totals ranged between 0.05 to 1.0 inch. Month-to-date totals at the airport was 2.15 inches or 71.9% of normal, while the year-to-date was 86.4% of normal. SPI values at the 1, 6, 9, and 12 months were indicative of abnormally dry conditions to severe drought. SPI value at the 3-month was indicative of drought free conditions. Groundwater levels at the Adventure 28 Well were slightly improving.

St. John had some beneficial rains, with totals between 0.87 inch to 1.76 inches. Month-to-date rainfall total at the Windswept Beach was 64.9% of normal and 70.9% of normal for the year-to-date. SPI at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were indicative of moderate to severe drought, while it was abnormally dry at the 1 month period. The groundwater levels at the Susannaberg DPW 3 well was steadily decreasing. Short- to long-term extreme drought persisted for St. John.

Pacific: Placeholder

Placeholder

Palau had 1.17 inch of rain this week. Even though it was less than its weekly threshold of 2 inches to meet most water needs, drought was not a concern at this time since its month-to-date rainfall total was close to double its monthly threshold of 8 inches.

Most locations across the Marianas had a wet week, securing another week of drought free conditions. This week's rainfall totals surpassed their weekly threshold of 1 inch, resulting in month-to-date totals that were close to double their monthly threshold of 4 inches.

Several locations across the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) had a dry week, with rainfall totals less than their weekly threshold of 2 inches to meet most water needs. Despite this, drought was not a concern for most locations across the FSM since most locations had month-to-date totals surpassing their monthly threshold of 8 inches. Kapingamarangi received some much needed rain (1.52 inches) this week, but its month-to-date total was only 4.35 inches. Short- to long-term moderate drought continued for Kapingamarangi. Pohnpei and Nukuoro were the only locations to receive over 2 inches of rain this week.

This was a wet week for most locations across the Marshall Islands. Mili had the most rain with a total of 4.60 inches for the week. Jaluit was the only location to have less than 1 inch of rain; however, its month-to-date total was close to the threshold of 8 inches to meet most water needs. Drought free conditions persisted across the Marshall Islands this week.

Across American Samoa, Pago Pago and Toa Ridge had 0.85 and 0.88 inch of rain, respectively, while Siufaga Ridge had 1.32 inches for the week. Drought was not a concern at this time for American Samoa.

Placeholder

]]>