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

Extreme drought over the lower leeward slopes of Molokaʻi, Maui, and  Kauaʻi. Severe drought remains over leeward Oʻahu and Lānaʻi. 

U.S. Drought Monitor
Leeward areas remained generally dry while windward areas received rainfall over the past week. 
Drought intensity and Extent
D3 (Extreme Drought): Developed over leeward Maui, and remains over leeward areas of Kauaʻi and Molokaʻi. 
D2 (Severe Drought): Remains over leeward Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, and increased in coverage over Maui County. 
D1 (Moderate Drought): Remains over most leeward areas from Maui to Kauaʻi, and a small portion of the Big Island. 
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Covers the rest of the state not under D1 through D3 conditions.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
One Week Drought Monitor Class Change.
Drought worsened: Most of the Big Island, and windward areas of Oʻahu and Maui County.
Drought improved: None. 
No Change: Kauaʻi County, and leeward areas from Oʻahu to the Big Island.
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 
Drought worsened: Most of the Big Island, and windward areas from Maui to Kauaʻi.
Drought improved: No significant areas. 
No Change: Most of Kauaʻi County, and leeward areas from Oʻahu to the Big Island.

Precipitation
Most of the Big Island, the windward slopes of Maui, and the Koʻolau Range on Oʻahu received significant rainfall in early November. 
Remaining areas of the state, especially along the lower leeward slopes, had mostly near to below average rainfall in November. 

Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
None.
Agricultural Impacts
Rangelands in leeward areas of Kauaʻi and Oʻahu continue to indicate drought conditions (Hawaiʻi Rangeland Information Portal).
Rangelands in leeward areas of Maui County remain very dry (Condition reports from the USDA-FSA and the State Dept. of Ag.).
Fire Hazard Impacts
None. 
Other Impacts
None.
Mitigation Actions
None. 

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
The 14-day streamflow levels have dropped below normal at nearly all sites in the state. 
The 28-day streamflow levels were below normal at most of the sites from Kauaʻi to Maui, and near normal at all of the Big Island sites.
Image Caption: USGS 14 day average streamflow map.

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Climate models favor above normal precipitation across the main Hawaiian Islands into spring 2025.
Despite recent dryness, leeward drought is expected to improve or end over the next several months.