The Maui News

Some areas of Central Maui saw no measurable rainfall the entire month of July, as very dry conditions continued in many areas of Maui County, the National Weather Service said.

Portions of South and Central Maui have developed exceptional drought, the highest possible category, while extreme drought, the next-highest stage, continued over leeward areas of Molokai and the southeastern flank of Kahoolawe. Severe drought, the next category down, remained in place over most of Lanai.

“Pastures and general vegetation conditions remain extremely poor along the lower leeward slopes of the county,” the weather service said in its latest drought information statement released Thursday. “Ranchers operating in these areas reduced their herd sizes several months ago as drought conditions started to worsen. Feral deer on Molokai and Maui continue to aggravate operating conditions for farmers by competing with livestock for forage and by consuming produce in nonprotected farmlands.”

Drought has also impacted the rest of the state, with extreme drought expanding through portions of Hawaii island’s South Kohala district over the past month, and severe drought on the leeward slopes and eastern end of the Koolau Range on Oahu. On Kauai, the area from Hanapepe to Waimea has gone from severe to extreme drought.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has also designated Maui, Honolulu and Hawaii counties as primary natural disaster areas due to drought. This allows funding to be used for emergency loans and compensation for grazing losses.

The long-lead Hawaiian Islands outlook issued July 21 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center showed probabilities continuing to favor below-normal rainfall during the summer and into the fall.