000 AXHW70 PHFO 122118 DGTHFO HIC001-003-007-009-132200- Drought Information Statement National Weather Service Honolulu HI 1118 AM HST Thu Nov 12 2020 ...EXTREME DROUGHT PERSISTS ON THE BIG ISLAND AND MAUI COUNTY... .SYNOPSIS: Much needed rainfall returned to the leeward slopes of Kauai and Oahu in late October. There was enough rain to ease conditions from severe drought, or the D2 category in the U.S. Drought Monitor map, to moderate drought, or the D1 category, along the lower leeward slopes of Kauai. However, the lack of trade winds and their attendant showers reduced stream flow significantly. This resulted in hydrologic drought at D1 and D2 levels along the north-facing slopes of the island. On Oahu, leeward rainfall allowed severe drought to improve to moderate drought from Nanakuli to Makua Valley, but remained at severe drought levels over the area from Ewa to Mililani. Moderate hydrologic drought covered the slopes of Oahu`s Koolau Range due to low stream flows. Maui County and the Big Island continued to have the worst drought conditions in the state. Extreme drought, or the D3 category, is currently depicted over the west half of Molokai, the lower leeward slopes of Haleakala on Maui, and along lower south- facing slopes of Lanai. Severe drought covered the rest of Maui due to a combination of agricultural drought and hydrologic drought. Over the past month on the Big Island, extreme drought developed over the lower slopes of the South Kohala District and near South Point. Severe drought due to agricultural impacts and low stream flow covered most of the northern half of the Big Island from Hilo to Upolu Point. Moderate drought was over much of the southern half of the island from Hilo to Pahala. .SUMMARY OF IMPACTS: Kauai County Satellite-based vegetation health data indicated improved conditions along the lower leeward slopes of Kauai between Hanapepe and Waimea. However, stream flow data from Hanalei River, Wainiha River, and Waialae Stream indicated recent 7-day flows below the 10th percentile. Oahu (City and County of Honolulu) Vegetation conditions have improved over portions of the Waianae Range in west Oahu. However, satellite-based vegetation health data indicated that conditions remain poor over the lower leeward slopes from Ewa to Mililani. Stream data also indicated low flows persisting along the Koolau Range, especially along the leeward slopes. Maui County Ground and satellite-based reports indicated very poor vegetation health over the west half of Molokai, the lower south-facing slopes of Lanai, the lower leeward slopes of the West Maui Mountains, most of Upcountry Maui, and the Kaupo area of Haleakala. Anecdotal reports mentioned that cattle and axis deer were dying in west Molokai. Stream flows were also low, especially along the windward slopes of the West Maui Mountains. Hawaii County Ground reports indicated that some pastures in the leeward side of the Waimea Plain were approaching 50 percent loss. Kawaihae and other leeward Kohala areas also had very dry pastures. Through November 9, 7-day flow levels in Wailuku River were below the 10th percentile, but have improved a bit since then. .DROUGHT MITIGATION ACTIONS: The U.S. Department of Agriculture declared Hawaii County and Maui County as Primary Natural Disaster Areas in March 2020. The declaration allows the Farm Service Agency to extend emergency credit to producers affected by drought conditions. The Maui County Department of Water Supply has maintained its Stage 1 Water Shortage status for Upcountry and West Maui. The declaration requests residents in the affected areas to cut back on non-essential water use until further notice. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has maintained its conservation request for all residents on Oahu due to the ongoing drought. The request asks for reduced consumption to help ensure adequate long term supply. The request was issued on October 7. On October 29, the County of Hawaii Department of Water Supply issued a Water Conservation Notice for its South Kohala customers due to the prolonged lack of rainfall. The notice requests that customers reduce water use by at least 10 percent. .LOCAL DROUGHT OUTLOOK: The Long-Lead Hawaiian Islands Outlook issued on October 15 by the NOAA Climate Prediction Center showed probabilities favoring above normal rainfall through the rest of 2020 and into spring 2021. Probabilities continued to favor above normal temperatures across the state through the rest of 2020 and into early 2021 due to the forecast of above average sea surface temperatures around the Hawaiian Islands. The next long-lead outlook will be issued by the Climate Prediction Center on November 19. Based on the forecast, drought should ease over the west half of the state and the east-facing windward slopes of Maui and the Big Island. Leeward areas of Maui and the Big Island may have drought persist over the next several months with only a limited easing of dry conditions. .NEXT ISSUANCE DATE: The next Drought Information Statement will be issued on December 10, 2020 or sooner if necessary in response to significant changes in conditions. .RELATED WEB SITES: Additional information on current drought conditions may be found at the following web addresses: U.S. Drought Monitor: droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ Hawaii Drought Monitor: dlnr.hawaii.gov/drought USGS Hawaii - Recent Conditions: hi.water.usgs.gov/recent/index.html Climate Prediction Center long-lead Hawaii outlook: www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/90day/fxhw40.html Hawaii Drought Impact Reporter: hawaii.droughtreporter.unl.edu/ .ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Information for this product was compiled from a number of sources including the county boards and departments of water supply, U.S. and State of Hawaii agriculture agencies, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the media. .CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have questions or comments about this drought information statement, please contact: Kevin Kodama National Weather Service 2525 Correa Rd. Suite 250 Honolulu HI 96822 Phone: 808-973-5276 Email: Kevin.kodama@noaa.gov $$