Puerto ricans have faced the worst drought in more than 20 years and. Quarterly climate impacts and outlook for the southeast region for december 2018 february 2019. How puerto rico is coping with the worst drought in decades pbs. But now the dry season has begun, and puerto rico will need more.
Virgin islands usvi were in the grip of a historic drought. A deepening drought in puerto rico that has affected 2. The main hotel areas in sj and carolina are not included in the rationing yet. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought d1d4 in puerto rico lasted 80 weeks beginning on may 5, 2015 and. This june 15, 2015 aerial file photo shows the drought affecting the carraizo reservoir in trujillo alto, puerto rico. Puerto rico faces dry season as it emerges from drought. Right now, two thirds of puerto rico is classified as abnormally dry.
On molokai, moderate drought was expanded eastward to kaunakakai and on the big island, moderate drought was pushed to the east to include the leeward slope of the kohala mountains and south to waikoloa. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought d1d4 in puerto rico lasted 80 weeks beginning on may 5, 2015 and ending on november 8, 2016. In puerto rico, abnormally dry conditions were expanded to the north with a new area introduced in the northeast part of the island. How puerto rico is coping with the worst drought in decades. Federal officials said 76 percent of puerto rico is experiencing abnormally dry conditions and another 8 percent is in a moderate drought. San juan puerto rico s government says it is preparing for the islands upcoming dry season to avoid another debilitating drought. Along with increased risk of extreme weather such as major hurricanes, the drought is a sign of climate change. How severe is the drought on the island, puerto rico forum. The tropical island of puerto rico has been scrambling for a precious resource. Drought in the southern puerto rico is likely to persist for juneaugust. Out of the 78 towns cities in pr, only 8 are being affected by the rationing. There is a pronounced rainy season from april to november and a dry season from december to march.
The executive president of the islands water and sewer authority says he has identified dozens of wells that could be used if water levels at the main reservoirs drop too much. John, and the entire islands of vieques, culebra, and st. There is no drought at the current time in alaska, and there are no convincing indications to the contrary for the juneaugust season. On the september 1 st usdm map, abnormal dryness and drought shrank to about 78. Throughout puerto rico, the drought of 19931996 was the most intense drought on record figure 3a, whereas the same precipitation record indicates that the 19661969 drought was the most intense drought in the eastern interior area odalys martinezsanchez, national weather service, written communication, 2015 figure 3b.
Puerto rico extends water rationing as drought deepens after arid. While daytime maximum temperatures were near normal for most of the region, nighttime minimum temperatures were much above normal. The southeast experienced its 9 th warmest winter on record. San juan puerto ricos government says it is preparing for the islands upcoming dry season to avoid another debilitating drought. Puerto ricans have faced the worst drought in more than 20 years and the most stringent water. Analysis of 20th century rainfall and streamflow to characterize. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of august 11, 2015 where d3 affected 24.