Extreme drought recedes to 9.3% in Puerto Rico

By THE STAR STAFF

Extreme drought continues to recede in Puerto Rico and now affects 9.3% of the territory, while the total extent of drought conditions has dropped to 54.5%, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor update released Thursday, with data valid as of Tuesday, Sept. 29.

The new report reflects an improvement compared to the Sept. 8 update, when 69.1% of Puerto Rico remained under some category of drought and 39.5% was experiencing extreme drought. The reduction between the two dates represents 14.6% and 30.2%, respectively.

Severe drought currently affects 19.7% of the territory, while moderate drought covers 25.6%. Another 11% remains under abnormally dry conditions, a classification that does not formally constitute a drought category.

The latest map shows that extreme drought is concentrated primarily along a strip of Puerto Rico’s southern and southwestern coast. Moderate and severe drought conditions extend across other sectors of the central, northern and eastern regions, while large areas of the west and northwest appear free of drought classifications.

No part of Puerto Rico is currently experiencing exceptional drought, the most intense category used by the Drought Monitor.

Although the data reflect a considerable reduction in extreme drought, more than half of Puerto Rico’s territory still remains under one of the three drought categories included in the report.