Drought in Guam, March 1 to 31, 2016

The experimental drought assessment of the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that some locations in the Republic of Palau remain in a period of extreme drought conditions (Drought level 3).| Rainfall across The Republic of Palau continued to be lower than average. During March only 2.68 inches fell at the Weather Service Office as opposed to the average rainfall of 8.27 inches. | Peleliu, another island in the Republic located at the south end of the lagoon (30 miles S of Malakal Harbor), also showed the effect of the drought with only 2.63 inches falling in March compared to the average rainfall of 8.20 inches at that location. | The Ngerikiil Reservoir dropped to very low levels and flow of the|Ngerikill River is very low. As the drought has persisted for months the water supply has suffered in the Republic and water rationing was implemented. The severity of the drought necessitated water only being available for 6 hours per day or less. The hours that the water was turned off allowed the Utilities personnel to fill and maintain water level in all the distribution tanks in Koror and Airai to help ensure a supply of water at the scheduled hours. Some people on higher elevation had no water.

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 March as the Weather Service Office only recorded 0.70 inches compared to the usual 5.34 inches. |Woleai, an atoll in Yap State ( 385 miles ESE of Yap Island), illustrated the severity of the drought as only 0.58 inches fell in March there compared to the average 8.20 inches.|Ulithi, also part of Yap State( 110 miles NE of Yap Island), received only 13 percent of the usual March rainfall, with only 0.62 inches falling compared with the average of 4.65 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 Island was lower than average as March continued the dry trend as the Weather Service Office only recorded 5.76 inches compared to the usual 14.13 inches.

Pingelap, an island in Pohnpei State ( 185 miles ESE of Pohnpei Island), illustrated the severity of the drought, as only 1.52 inches fell there compared to the average 12.50 inches.

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 March as the Weather Service|Office only recorded 1.33 inches compared to the usual 7.55 inches. Normally March 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 (185 miles NNW of Majuro and ESE of Kwajalein), illustrated the severity of the drought as only 0.28 inches fell there compared to the average 2.03 inches.

Utirik, another Marshall Island atoll ( 345 miles NNW of Majuro and 220 miles NE of Kwajalein) received only 0.77 inches of rain compared to the usual of 3.49 inches. Jaluit Atoll ( 140 miles SW of Majuro) also bore testimony to the drought, as only 1.63 inches of rain was recorded there compared to its 10.19 inch March average.