Is Hawaii 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

984 of 1,396 (70%)

Worst category reached

D4 Exceptional drought, last the week of May 31, 2022

Most widespread

100% in drought, week of Jun 3, 2025

Longest spell

306 weeks, May 27, 2008 to Apr 1, 2014

Last in drought

Week of Apr 28, 2026

Monthly outlook, Oct 2026

No drought expected

Seasonal outlook, through December 31 (issued Sep 30)

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. Hawaii 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.

The interior Tanana Valley of east-central Alaska has been abnormally dry over the past several months, leading to the issuance of a moderate drought category there. In the Southeastern Alaskan Panhandle, the normal wet season for this time of year has begun, but given the prevailing wet climate regime, much more precipitation needs to fall to completely erase the prolonged dryness and moderate drought of this summer.

Hawaii was impacted by yet another Hurricane (Nolo) this past week, bringing prolific rainfall particularly to the Big Island. However, since most of the heavy rain fell on the favorable east-facing windward side of the Big Island, the abnormal dryness was allowed to remain in this week’s drought map along the rain shadow of the west coast.

Tropical Depression 26W was east of the Mariana Islands and moving westward. To the south, a monsoon surge was developing across central Federated States of Micronesia and southeast of Guam.

The Republic of Palau was at D1 and received 1.46 inches of precipitation at Palau IAP. No precipitation was reported for Koror. Month-to-date precipitation for Palau IAP on the last day of September was 4.18 inches, less than a third of normal precipitation for the month. These islands need 2 inches of rain per week to meet minimum water needs.

The Mariana Islands received more than an inch for the week, except for one Saipan location. One inch is the weekly amount these islands need to meet minimum water needs. Guam reported 1.52 inches, Rota got 1.76 inches, and Saipan IAP collected 2.31 inches.

The Federated States of Micronesia were mixed for the week. Kapingamarangi remains at D1 and received a mere 0.02 inches of rain. Precipitation was also low for Kosrae, Lukunor and Nukuoro. Chuuk, Pohnpei, Ulithi, Woleai and Yap all received more than 3 inches.

Some of the Marshall Islands received ample precipitation, while other islands did not. Utirik reportedly received 3.22 inches of precipitation, so the D0 label was removed. Locations with less than 2 inches of rain included Majuro with 1.5 inches and Mili with 0.58 inches. Ailinglaplap, Jaluit, Kwajalein and Wotje all collected more than 2 inches of rain, which is the amount to cover minimum water needs.

American Samoa remained at D0 as rainfall had been below normal, but precipitation has improved in recent weeks. Pago Pago received 0.94 inches of rain, while Siufaga Ridge and Toa Ridge received 4.48 and 2.22 inches, respectively. These islands require 2 inches of rain per week to meet minimum water needs.

Looking ahead

Ongoing substantial rain was falling Tuesday morning at the onset of the new U.S. Drought Monitor week, from Arizona and New Mexico into the Central and High Plains. This excessive rainy system connected to Hurricane Polo is projected to continue eastward this week into the High Plains, Midwest, and South regions. The Weather Prediction Center has moderate threats for excessive rainfall from the Southwest into Texas, Oklahoma, northward into Nebraska and Iowa. Drought-busting rains may be possible across the South as this weather system evolves this week. Looking into the next week, the Climate Prediction Center’s 6–10-day outlook indicates that well-above average temperatures will shift into the western states, along with below normal precipitation chances. Meanwhile, above average precipitation chances are projected from southern Texas into the southeastern states, including Florida. Above average precipitation chances are also projected for southeastern Alaska, with near neutral rainfall forecasts for Hawaii.

Written by Denise Gutzmer, National Drought Mitigation Center; Jonathan Case, NASA/MSFC, UAH. 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.