Drought in Guam, May 1 to 31, 2024

Palau had improved from abnormally dry to to no drought or dryness at the end of April, but remained under Stage 1 of the National Drought Action Plan since March 26th. On May 14 at 1030LST (1230ChST), the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) of the Republic of Palau issued a updated message stating the Stage 1 Declaration was rescinded due to water levels rising and remaining above the 85% threshold, with long-term weather outlooks showing a decreasing risk of long-term dryness and drought.

Yap State remains the hardest hit by short-term and long-term drought in the FSM. Yap Proper, Ulithi and nearby islands were in exceptional (D4) drought at the start of May. These islands remained in D4 until May 28th, when they improved slightly to extreme (D3) drought in response to heavy showers associated with Invest 93W around May 22nd, with Yap Proper reporting 0.93 inches and Ulithi reporting 2.70 inches, before this disturbance would develop further into 01W (Ewiniar) in the Philippine Seas. Woleai, an island in eastern Yap State, entered May in severe (D2) drought, and would fluctuate D2 and moderate (D1) drought as passing trade-wind disturbances, including 93W, brought periods of increased rainfall to Woleai and nearby islands. Woleai then remained in D2 from May 21st to the end of May as a dry pattern established itself over Yap State near the end of May. Reports from Yap State mentioned minor improvements in water levels in water catchments and other water storage systems, with 3 of the 4 water authorities on Yap Proper, reporting water supplies starting to rise after experiencing months of water levels dropping. However, short-term and long-term drought impacts continued to strain water and agricultural resources, with residents continuing to be urged to ration fresh water usage.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) south of 9N continued to see improving drought condition through May with most islands improving from moderate (D1) drought to abnormally dry (D0) or no drought or dryness. This resulted from the strong winter subtropical ridge starting to weaken and lift north, allowing trade-wind disturbance that have been mainly near the equator to lift northward into the Marshall Islands. This pattern also started to bring drought relief to Wotje and nearby islands in the northern RMI, was in exceptional (D4) drought at the end of April. On May 7th, Wotje had improved to extreme (D3) drought, and this trend continued as Wotje further improved to severe (D2) drought on May 21st, and finally improved to moderate (D1) drought on May 28th. For the month of May, 6.94 inches of rain fell at Wotje, up from the 3.32 inches recorded in April, and the 0.00 inches reported in March.

Guam held steady at severe (D2) drought as most weeks failed to meet the 1 inch weekly minimum requirements to meet water needs and Guam ended the month with 3.82 inches at the weather service office. Vegetation started to yellow again, after briefly greening at the beginning of the month from the heavy rain fall back on April 24th.

Saipan and Tinian remained steady in extreme (D3) drought for the month of May as both islands did not meet 1 inch weekly minimum rainfall requirements to meet water needs. Saipan International airport ended May with 1.26 inches of rain, while Tinian airport ended the month with 0.85 inches. Vegetation remained yellowed and dry across the island.

After holding steady at moderate (D1) drought since February, Rota degraded to severe (D2) drought and further degraded to extreme drought (D3) on May 14th. Rota by May 7th was about 50 percent of normal rainfall for the calendar year to date. At the end of the May, 2.84 inches of rain was reported at the Rota Airport for the month.