Drought Information Statement for the Main Hawaiian Islands 
Valid March 14, 2025
Issued By: WFO Honolulu, HI
Contact Information: w-hfo.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated April 11, 2025 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly.  
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/hfo/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 

Dryness returns to most of the state in February.

U.S. Drought Monitor
The main Hawaiian Islands have had mostly dry weather following the rainy conditions in late January. As a result, drought has once again increased in coverage and severity in many areas of the state.
Drought intensity and Extent
D2 (Severe Drought): Remains over leeward Kauaʻi and returned to West Maui.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Expanded to cover the rest of Kauaʻi not under D2, all of Oʻahu, east Maui, and Kahoʻolawe, and most of Lānaʻi and the Big Island. Also covers the leeward half of Molokaʻi. 
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Over the east half of Molokaʻi, and portions of the Big Island’s eastern and southwestern slopes not covered by D1.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
One Week Drought Monitor Class Change.
Drought worsened: None.
Drought improved: Lower windward slopes of the Big Island.
No Change: Most of the Big Island and all of the islands from Maui to Niʻihau. 
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 
Drought worsened: All of Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe, and most of Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, Maui, and the Big Island.
Drought improved: All of Niʻihau and the lower leeward slopes of Kauaʻi. 
No Change: Southwest Molokaʻi and Maui, and portions of the southwestern and eastern slopes of the Big Island.

Precipitation
Most areas of the main Hawaiian Islands had below average rainfall in February. 
A February 16-17 heavy rain event helped produce above average rainfall over west Kauaʻi. 

Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
Low streamflow levels in West Maui have resulted in reduced potable water production. 
Agricultural Impacts
Prior to the resumption of trade wind rainfall, condition reports from the windward side of the Big Island indicated very dry pastures. 
Fire Hazard Impacts
None.
Other Impacts
None.
Mitigation Actions
None. 

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
The 14-day streamflow levels were normal at most sites on Kauaʻi, Maui, and the Big Island. Oʻahu sites were mostly at below normal flow levels. 
The 28-day streamflow levels (not shown here) were below normal at most sites across the state due to below average rainfall in February.
Image Caption: USGS 14 day average streamflow map.

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Despite the recent dryness, the outlook from the Climate Prediction Center favors above normal precipitation across the main Hawaiian Islands through the remainder of spring 2025.
The seasonal return of more frequent trades means that the east-facing windward slopes should receive most of the rain and drought relief. Unfortunately, this also means that leeward drought should persist.