81.4 F
Cruz Bay
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsLocal newsNOAA: Drought Conditions Have Ended in Puerto Rico and USVI

NOAA: Drought Conditions Have Ended in Puerto Rico and USVI

US Drought Monitor – Caribbean Region. Drought conditions have ended across Puerto Rico and the USVI. (Photo from the National Integrated Drought Information System website)

According to a Nov. 3 update from the National Integrated Drought Information System website — a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — drought conditions across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have ended. Recent heavy rains over Puerto Rico and the USVI have helped to alleviate dry conditions that have affected both territories, and the rainfall totals have been above average.

Between Aug. 18 and Oct. 30, Puerto Rico and the USVI received above-average rainfall for the reporting timeframe. “The surplus precipitation ranges from about 23% in the north coast to 96% in the southern slopes,” the NOAA update describes Puerto Rico.

(Image courtesy of a November 3, 2022, update from the National Integrated Drought Information System Website)

And in the USVI, the water totals were also exceedingly high. “All reporting stations in the USVI noted between 14” and 17” of rainfall in September and October. This is about 140% to 170% of normal [precipitation amounts],” the NOAA update explains.

While the termination of drought status is welcome news to many, it has also created new challenges, particularly in each territory’s agricultural sector. Farmers in Puerto Rico and the USVI have endured consequences from flooding, extremely wet soils, impassible roadways, and downed trees. Other impacts include wind damage to fruit trees, and on St. Thomas, “Poultry producers also stated increased rain is slightly impacting egg production,” the NOAA update noted.

(Image courtesy of a November 3, 2022, update from the National Integrated Drought Information System Website)

Still, vegetation, fruit trees, and orchards are thriving across the islands due to the substantial amounts of precipitation. Some farmers are continuing to save and conserve water and prepare for the possibility of future water shortages.

The dry season is expected to start in Puerto Rico and the USVI within the next three months.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.