Extreme drought now covers one‑third of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is facing a sharp and troubling escalation of its mid‑summer drought, with extreme conditions now affecting 33.31% of the island, a figure that represents nearly double the coverage reported just one week ago. The expansion is most pronounced in the island’s east, south and southwest.

By THE STAR STAFF

Puerto Rico is facing a sharp and troubling escalation of its mid‑summer drought, with extreme conditions now affecting 33.31% of the island, according to the latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The figure represents nearly double the coverage reported just one week ago, underscoring how quickly the situation has deteriorated.

The expansion is most pronounced in the island’s east, south and southwest, where river flows remain critically low and some communities continue to experience water rationing. Entire municipalities, including Vieques, Culebra, Guánica, Santa Isabel, Humacao, Las Piedras, Juncos, Naguabo, Ceiba, Gurabo, Fajardo and Luquillo, are now fully classified under extreme drought.

As an example of the mounting threat to water supplies in the island’s most drought-affected regions, the level at the Fajardo reservoir dropped 0.12 meters on Tuesday to 47.01 meters -- just over three meters away from entering the operational adjustment phase, Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Carlos and District 36 Rep. Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez said Wednesday.

Meteorologists and emergency planners warn that the lack of rainfall poses a direct threat to essential sectors. Puerto Rico relies heavily on precipitation for drinking‑water supplies and agricultural production, making prolonged dry spells especially disruptive. High temperatures paired with drought conditions can damage crops, stress livestock and drive up costs associated with irrigation, water distribution and energy use.

The worsening outlook came as the National Weather Service maintained heat advisories for parts of the island, and forecasters monitored a tropical disturbance in the Atlantic that could bring heavy rain later in the week. For now, however, officials continue urging residents to conserve water and remain alert to updates from local authorities.