Drought in Guam, April 1 to 30, 2016

The experimental drought assessment of the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that some locations in the Republic of Palau had increased to exceptional drought conditions (Drought level 4). The main islands of Palau did however see increased rainfall with two 2 day periods experiencing heavy rainfall.

Rainfall across The Republic of Palau continued to be lower than average. During April only 7.46 inches fell at the Weather Service Office as opposed to the average rainfall of 8.44 inches.

Peleliu, another island in the Republic, also showed the effects of the drought with only 3.80 inches falling in April compared to the average rainfall of 8.10 inches at that location.

The Ngerimel Reservoir has been shut down and the Ngerikill River is the only remaining source of public water in the State of Koror.

As the drought has persisted for months the water supply has suffered in the Republic|and water rationing was implemented. Earlier in the month the severity of the drought necessitated water only being on for only up to 2 hours per day. The rainfall|during the later part of the month helped alleviate the situation and allowed a relaxing of the water rationing increasing the on time for water to 8 hours.

Schools in Palau have cut hours because of the inability to provide water to students. |Some restaurants have reduced working hours because of the lack of water, while some have shifted to using paper cups, plates and plastic utensils to save water that might have been used to wash dishes and utensils. Hotels are also suffering from the water shortage as some bookings have been cancelled.

The experimental drought assessment of the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that some locations in Yap state remain in a period of extreme drought conditions (Drought level 3).

Rainfall across Yap was lower than average in April as the Weather Office only recorded 2.56 inches compared to the usual 5.08 inches.| |Woleai, an atoll in Yap state, illustrated the severity of the drought as only 1.87 inches fell in April there compared to the average 9.19 inches.

Ulithi, also part of Yap state, received 70 percent of the usual April rainfall|with only 3.21 inches falling compared with the average of 4.59 inches.|The experimental drought assessment of the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates|that some locations in Pohnpei state remain in a period of moderate|drought conditions (Drought level 1).

Rainfall across Pohnpei was lower than average as April continued the dry |trend as the Weather Office only recorded 8.02 inches compared to the usual 15.45 inches or 52 percent of normal.

Pingelap, an island in Pohnpei state, illustrated the severity of the drought|as only 3.74 inches fell there compared to the average 11.68 inches or 32 percent of normal.

The experimental drought assessment of the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that some locations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands remain in a period of extreme|drought conditions (Drought level 3).

Rainfall across Majuro was lower than average in April as the Weather Office only recorded 1.39 inches compared to the usual 8.55 inches or 16 percent of normal. In Majuro, water rationing is in effect with only four hours of water available to residents per week.

Normally April is a dry month for portions of the Marshall Islands, but|this year witnessed a deeper dry period than usual. Wotje, an atoll in the Marshalls, |illustrated the severity of the drought as only 0.16 inches fell there compared to the |average 3.52 inches or about 4.5 percent of normal. Utirik, another Marshall Island atoll, received only 2.86 inches of rain compared to the usual of 6.41 inches or 45 percent of normal. Jaluit also bore testimony to the drought as only 0.27 inches of rain was recorded there compared to 11.84 inches. That was slightly more than 2 percent of normal.