Is Kauai County in a drought?

• D0 Abnormally dry
• D1 Moderate drought
• D2 Severe drought
• D3 Extreme drought
• D4 Exceptional drought

• D0 Abnormally dry
• D1 Moderate drought
• D2 Severe drought
• D3 Extreme drought
• D4 Exceptional drought

Weeks with some drought

500 of 1,394 (36%)

Worst category reached

D3 Extreme drought, last the week of Apr 15, 2025

Most widespread

100% in drought, week of Jan 7, 2025

Longest spell

73 weeks, Jul 23, 2024 to Dec 9, 2025

Last in drought

Week of Dec 9, 2025

Monthly outlook, Sep 2026

No drought expected

Seasonal outlook, through December 31 (issued Sep 17)

No drought expected

The monthly outlook is issued on the last day of each month, the seasonal one on the third Thursday. CPC's discussion.

Drawn from the Drought Impact Reporter and local observers.

The Drought Monitor does not issue burn bans or water restrictions. Kauai County's officials, the state forestry or fire agency, and local water utilities set them, often once drought reaches D2 or dry fuels raise the fire danger. Check the county's emergency management office or fire marshal for a ban in force, and the alerts page for red flag warnings and fire weather watches.

In Alaska, areas of abnormally dry conditions were also removed based on recent rains in the southeastern part of the mainland.

Over Hawaii, rainfall from remnants and outer bands of tropical systems resulted in removal of abnormally dry conditions on the islands of Maui and Molokaʻi.

Conditions across the Marshal islands brought intermittent showers and heavy rainfall for most islands this week (September 9-15). This week, all but Utirik (1.74 inches) received over 3 inches of rain with Ailinglapalap recording 6.41 inches, Jaluit 4.13 inches, Kwajalein 5.84 inches, Majuro 3.87 inches, Mili 4.23 inches and Wotje 3.54 inches. While Utirik did receive 1.74 inches this week, it follows several weeks of below adequate precipitation demand leading to the introduction of short-term abnormal dryness (D0-S).

The Federation States of Micronesia experienced generally good rainfall this week, with most stations receiving 2-6 inches. This week, Chuuk Lagoon received 2.39 inches (1 day missing), Kapingamarangi 0.98 inches, Kosrae 2.16 inches (2 days missing), Lukunor 5.91 inches (2 days missing), Nukuoro 1.88 inches, Ulithi 3.34 inches, (2 days missing) Pohnpei 5.81 inches, Woleai 4.19 inches (1 day missing) and Yap 2.23 inches (1 day missing). Kapingamarangi remained in short-term abnormally dryness (D0-S) after at least three weeks of dryness but showed some improvement from recent rainfall. Fananu and Pingelap had no data.

American Samoa received much needed and beneficial rainfall this week after several dry weeks. This week, Pago Pago received 2.68 inches (1 day missing), Siufaga Ridge 6.56 inches and Toa Ridge 5.43 inches. Despite the abundant rainfall this week, conditions remain in short-term moderate drought conditions, though more rainfall in the weeks to come could improve those conditions.

Palau experienced another week of inadequate precipitation and remain in short-term moderate drought (D1-S). This week with both Koror and WSO Palau/Airai recorded 1.87 inches. While this week did get more precipitation, this followed 2 consecutive dry weeks.

This week, the Mariana Islands received generally adequate rainfall. Synoptic conditions favored active convection and locally heavy showers, particularly over Guam that received an average of 2.7 inches this week with Antonio B Won Pat International Airport recording 4.49 inches, Agat 3.19 recording inches and Dededo recording 3.13 inches (2 days missing). Saipan averaged over 3.18 inches this week with Saipan International Airport recording 3.41 inches and Capital Hill recording 2.95 inches this week. Rota received 2.54 inches this week with the September monthly total already surpassing the necessary 4 inches (4.52 inches). Tinian only recorded trace precipitation (0.06 inches), though there was no data for 6 of the 7 days this week. All islands remain free of dryness or drought.

Looking ahead

Over the next five days leading up to next Tuesday, above normal rainfall is forecast in south Florida as well as a large area in southern Wisconsin and Minnesota into eastern Iowa and northern Illinois. The latter area of forecasted rainfall continues to the east through central Michigan, the southern Great Lakes, Pennsylvania, New York, and much of central and southern New England. Other locations with rainfall in the forecast this week are in the Appalachian Mountains, the western Great Plains, and the Four Corners states. Unfortunately, most of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are forecast to receive little rainfall. Dry conditions are also forecast in California, Nevada, and Washington. Much above normal temperatures are forecast to continue this week in the central and southern U.S.

The 6- to 10-day outlook (September 22-26, 2026) favors above normal temperatures continuing over nearly all of the continental United States. Areas most likely to be above normal are again the south into the southeast, plus the far north. Hawaii is also likely to be above normal. For precipitation, the Eastern Seaboard is likely to have above normal rainfall as is the Southwest. The central U.S. into the upper Midwest is likely to have below normal rainfall. Hawaii and Alaska are both likely to have above normal rain during this period.

Written by Lindsay Johnson, National Drought Mitigation Center; David Mocko, SSAI, NASA/GSFC. The national narrative.

D0 Abnormally dry

Going into or coming out of drought.

D1 Moderate drought

Some damage to crops and pastures; water shortages developing.

D2 Severe drought

Crop or pasture losses likely; water restrictions imposed.

D3 Extreme drought

Major crop and pasture losses; widespread water shortages.

D4 Exceptional drought

Exceptional and widespread losses; water emergencies.

The US Drought Monitor is drawn every week by authors at the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA and NOAA, who weigh rainfall, soil moisture, streamflow, groundwater, vegetation health and reports from local observers. Each map shows conditions through Tuesday morning and is released on Thursday. It shows where drought is and how bad it is; it does not forecast it. CPC's outlooks do that.

Statistics and narrative from the US Drought Monitor, courtesy of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with USDA and NOAA. Outlooks from the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. Impacts from NDMC's State Impacts tool.