Drought Information Statement for the Main Hawaiian Islands 
Valid April 12, 2024
Issued By: WFO Honolulu, HI
Contact Information: w-hfo.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated May 10, 2024 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. 

Severe drought in portions of the Big Island and Maui.

U.S. Drought Monitor
Above average trade wind frequency kept leeward areas dry, resulting in the expansion and intensification of drought.
Drought intensity and Extent
D2 (Severe Drought): Developed over leeward Maui, and expanded into the northwestern portion of the Big Island. Also returned to the lower elevations of the Big Island’s southeastern flank.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Present over many of the leeward areas of the state.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Expanded into the windward sections of Oʻahu. Also expanded eastward on Kauaʻi.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
One Week Drought Monitor Class Change.
Drought Worsened: East Oʻahu, central Lānaʻi, and lower elevations of the Kaʻū District on the Big Island.
No Change: Drought areas in leeward Kauaʻi, most of Oʻahu, Maui County, the Big Island.
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 
Drought Worsened: Leeward Kauaʻi, most of Oʻahu and Maui County, and the lower elevations of leeward Kohala and the Kaʻū District on the Big Island. 
No Change: Drought areas in portions of leeward Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, and the interior sections of the Big Island.
Image Caption: U.S. Drought Monitor 1-week Change Map.

Precipitation
The windward slopes of the Big Island had near to above average rainfall in March. 
Most of the remaining areas in the state had near to below average March rainfall.
Higher than average frequency of trade winds resulted in below average rainfall for most of the leeward areas in the state.

Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
There are no known impacts at this time
Agricultural Impacts
Pastures over the leeward slopes of Maui were in very poor condition (USDA/FSA).
Fire Hazard Impacts
Vegetation health was significantly degraded over portions of the leeward Big Island and Maui. (https://app.climateengine.org/)
Other Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time
Mitigation Actions
A Stage 1 Water Shortage for the Upcountry water service area on Maui remains in effect. The Stage 1 Water Shortage puts restrictions on the use of water for certain activities such as irrigation, watering lawns, washing vehicles, and other non-essential activities. (Maui County Dept. of Water Supply)

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Most of the gages across the state indicated normal 14-day flow levels. 
The 28-day flow levels were mostly in the normal range across the state. Several west Maui and east Oʻahu sites had much below normal flow levels.
Image Caption: USGS 14 day average streamflow map valid April 10, 2024.

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Climate models favor below normal precipitation across the main Hawaiian Islands into spring 2024, which may result in the development or persistence of drought in some areas.