Is Anchorage Municipality 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

48 of 1,395 (3%)

Worst category reached

D3 Extreme drought, last the week of Sep 17, 2019

Most widespread

100% in drought, week of Sep 24, 2019

Longest spell

18 weeks, Jul 16, 2019 to Nov 12, 2019

Last in drought

Week of Jul 19, 2022

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. Anchorage Municipality'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 borough's emergency management office or fire marshal for a ban in force, and the alerts page for red flag warnings and fire weather watches.

Moderate precipitation over parts of Alaska resulted in reduction of abnormally dry regions in the state.

Hawaii is slowly recovering from tropical systems that passed nearby, with another system potentially coming close to the islands over the coming week.

Conditions across the Marshal islands brought intermittent showers and heavy rainfall for the northern islands keeping conditions status quo. This week, Utirik and Wotje recorded 1.75 and 2.58 inches respectively, though Ulirik is still in a precipitation deficit and has only recorded a little over half (4.27 inches) the necessary 8 inches per month. Elsewhere, after heavy rains last week, Ailinglapalap and Jaluit did not record any rainfall (1 day missing) while Kwajalein, Mili and Majuro received 0.54, 0.52 and 0.86 inches respectively. 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 varied rainfall with islands receiving well over 2 inches or under 0.15 inches. This week heavier rains fell across Chuuk Lagoon (2.30 inches, 1 day missing), Nukuoro (4.37 inches, 1 day missing) and Pohnpei (13.81, 1 day missing). Kosrae (0.25 inches, 5 days missing), Lukunor (0.14 inches, 2 days missing) and Kapingamarangi (0.02 inches, 1 day missing). Kapingamarangi has been below the necessary 2 inches a week for six weeks and has a monthly rainfall total of 3.08 inches leading to the degradation into short-term moderate drought (D1-S). Further west, there has been a short-term shift in weather towards the end of the week with monsoon showers bringing some short-term relief for Woleai (3.91 inches, 3 days missing), Ulithi (2.91 inches, 3 days missing) and Yap (4.73 inches, 1 day missing) before the dry pattern expected to return soon. Fananu and Pingelap had no data.

American Samoa saw generally decent rainfall. This week, Pago Pago received 5.6 inches (1 day missing), Siufaga Ridge 1.51 inches and Toa Ridge 1.74 inches (1 day missing). This week’s rainfall combined with last week’s heavy rainfall led to condition improving to short-term abnormal dryness (D0-S).

Palau experienced another week of inadequate precipitation and remain in short-term moderate drought (D1-S). This week with both Koror recording 1.87 inches while data was missing for WSO Palau/Airai. Conditions this week remain status quo with short-term moderate drought (D1-S).

This week, the Mariana Islands received heavy rainfall. Synoptic conditions favored active convection and locally heavy showers. Guam received an average of 4.09 inches this week with Antonio B Won Pat International Airport recording 5.64 inches, Agat 4.47 inches recording inches and Dededo recording 2.18 inches (2 days missing). Saipan averaged over 3.8 inches this week with Saipan International Airport recording 3.92 inches and Capital Hill recording 4.33 inches this week. Rota received 3.14 inches this week with the September monthly total already surpassing the necessary 4 inches (7.67 inches). Tinian had no data.

Looking ahead

The next five days are forecast to be wet along the northeastern coast from a nor’easter. The northwest is also predicted to receive needed precipitation. Remnants of a tropical system will provide significant moisture into the Four Corners states and the western Great Plains with heavy rainfall in the forecast. Parts of the northern Great Plains are also forecast to receive welcome precipitation. Areas with little rain in the forecast over the next five days are much of Texas and Louisiana, around the Great Lakes, and California and Nevada. The south and southwest should continue to have above normal temperatures, with cooler temperatures in the northeast and the northwest.

The 6- to 10-day outlook (September 29 to October 3) favors above normal temperatures over the southern half of the continental U.S. as well as the northeast. Hawaii is also likely to have above normal temperatures. The Great Basin area could have below normal rainfall, while above normal is possible over much of the central U.S. Both Hawaii and eastern Alaska are also favored to have above normal precipitation 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.

• Chugach Census AreaNone
• Kenai Peninsula BoroughNone
• Matanuska-Susitna BoroughNone

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.