Drought conditions remain

Article Photos

Fact Box

AVERAGE DAILY WATER USE

District Nov. 20-26Nov. 13-19 Nov. 2007

Central Maui 21.13 mgd22.72 mgd 23.57 mgd

Upcountry 6.11 mgd6.11 mgd6.66 mgd

Lahaina 4.33 mgd4.87 mgd 5.72 mgd

Hana 0.32 mgd0.33 mgd 0.28 mgd

Molokai 0.89 mgd1.09 mgd 1.11 mgd

Total32.78 mgd35.12 mgd 37.34 mgd

WAILUKU - Showers carried in on remnants of two cold fronts over the past two weeks brought brief respite to Maui County watersheds but failed to overcome the ongoing drought conditions.

A system that dropped 2.6 inches in the West Wailua Iki rain gauge over two days on Nov. 18 and 19 boosted flows out of the East Maui watershed. But with minimal rainfall over the next week, flows dropped off quickly.

After peaking at 167 million gallons a day Nov. 19, flows in the Wailoa Ditch that supply the county's Upcountry water system steadily slowed to fall to 28.2 mgd Friday.

The showers carried in on Kona-low systems reduced water demand, however, and Water Director Jeff Eng said the county has been able to sharply cut back on pumping, while levels in Upcountry reservoirs were at 124.3 million gallons Friday - double the low of 59.9 million gallons recorded Oct. 30.

"The storm predicted for last weekend gave us enough rain to reduce water production demand for all areas of Maui County this reporting period," Eng said in his weekly water use report. "Since then, it's been dry, but consumption has remained stable."

Demand on the Upcountry system remained below average at 6.11 mgd. Demand on the Central Maui also fell again to 21.13 mgd for the week. Both systems remain under voluntary conservation advisories.

While the Waikamoi and Kahakapao reservoirs continue to slowly fill, Eng said the department will continue to supply the Upper Kula system from the Piiholo Water Treatment Facility to maintain levels on the upper system.

Maui County experienced several periods of rainy weather over the past two weeks, brought in on cold fronts. The fronts are associated with low-pressure systems that lead to Kona, or southerly, winds in the islands. When a cold front moves in northwest of the islands, the Kona winds tend to pull moist tropical air over the islands that can generate heavy showers.

But the frontal systems over the past two weeks stalled short of Kauai, resulting in heavy showers on Kauai and Oahu, but briefer, isolated showers on Maui.

On Saturday, the remnants of a cold front again stalled around Kauai, bringing heavy rains to Kauai and Oahu, and overcast skies but less intense showers to Maui County.

With the rains on Kauai, the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor eased its ratings of drought for Kauai and Oahu, but maintained west Molokai and Central Maui in extreme drought.

Rainfall totals for November remain well below normal. Even with the spurt Nov. 18 and 19 at West Wailua Iki, overall rainfall for the month was below 7 inches as of Saturday, compared to a normal rainfall of 18.5 inches for November.

The Puu Kukui rain gauge in the West Maui watershed was getting higher rainfall numbers, with just under 16 inches through Saturday. But that compares with a November average of 33 inches.

With a series of frontal systems continuing to flow across the North Pacific, the pattern of alternating brisk trades and light Kona winds is expected to continue through the week. The National Weather Service on Saturday forecast that the next cold front to pass north of the islands, possibly by Monday, will bring showers to Kauai.

The fronts are associated with winter storms around the Aleutians that are generating the periodic northwest swells that have been pumping up the north shore surf spots. A high-surf advisory was issued for Maui County waters Saturday, but the swell was coming from a more westerly direction at 315 degrees, and the waves were less likely to hit Maui north shores directly.

Edwin Tanji can be reached at citydesk@mauinews.com.