Drought Information Statement for the Main Hawaiian Islands 
Valid October 11, 2024
Issued By: WFO Honolulu, HI
Contact Information: w-hfo.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated November 15, 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. 

Leeward drought intensifying from Maui to Kauaʻi.

U.S. Drought Monitor
Dry conditions in September from Maui to Kauaʻi  intensified drought. 
Drought intensity and Extent
D3 (Extreme Drought): Developed over leeward Kauaʻi. 
D2 (Severe Drought): Remains over leeward Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, and increasing in coverage over Maui County. 
D1 (Moderate Drought): Expanded over the leeward slopes from Maui to Kauaʻi. 
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Covered north Kauaʻi and the northwest flank of the Big Island.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
One Week Drought Monitor Class Change.
Drought worsened: Kauaʻi, and leeward areas of Oʻahu and Maui County.
Drought improved: None. 
No Change: Leeward Big Island.
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 
Drought worsened: Kauaʻi, and leeward areas of Oʻahu’s Koʻolau Range, Maui County, and the Big Island.
Drought improved: None. 
No Change: Leeward areas of Oʻahu’s Waiʻanae Range, north Lānaʻi, south Maui,  and the middle and upper slopes of Mauna Kea on the Big Island.
Updated map not available due to data center impacts from Hurricane Helene.

Precipitation
A tropical low pressure trough produced heavy rainfall over most of the Big Island and the windward slopes of Oʻahu in mid-September.
Record low September rainfall totals occurred over portions of leeward Maui County and Kauaʻi.

Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
Streamflow levels have slowly decreased at many locations across the state (USGS).
Agricultural Impacts
Pasture conditions deteriorated over the lower leeward slopes of Kauaʻi (USDA/FSA).
Rangelands in leeward areas of Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and Maui continue to indicate drought conditions (Hawaiʻi Rangeland Information Portal).
Fire Hazard Impacts
None. 
Other Impacts
None.
Mitigation Actions
None. 

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
The 14-day streamflow levels were near to below normal across the state. 
The 28-day flow levels were near to below normal on Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, but near to above normal on the Big Island and Maui County.
Image Caption: USGS 14 day average streamflow map.

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
A late start to the wet season is expected to result in drought persistence through October.
Climate models favor above normal precipitation across the main Hawaiian Islands in late 2024. 
Leeward drought is expected to improve or end in late 2024 or early 2025.