Puerto Rico
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. This map shows drought conditions across Puerto Rico using a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4). The USDM is a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA. Learn more.
The following Puerto Rico-specific drought impacts were compiled by the National Drought Mitigation Center. While these impacts are not exhaustive, they can help provide a clearer picture of drought in Puerto Rico.
- Streamflow is low
- Crops are stressed; farmers begin to conserve water
- Fire danger increases
- Reservoir levels decline; lake banks are exposed; streamflow continues to decrease
- Planting is delayed; ranchers are feeding cattle; hay is scarce; agriculture sector is suffering
- Trees and plants show stress
- Strict water rationing is implemented
- Cattle have little feed; crops are dying
- Mosquito-borne disease outbreak possible
- Water rationing expands; water is being trucked in; water quality is poor; aquifers are shrinking
- Puerto Rico has experienced little or no exceptional (D4) drought, so there are no D4-level drought impacts recorded in the Drought Impact Reporter.
- Streamflow is low
- Crops are stressed; farmers begin to conserve water
- Fire danger increases
- Reservoir levels decline; lake banks are exposed; streamflow continues to decrease
- Planting is delayed; ranchers are feeding cattle; hay is scarce; agriculture sector is suffering
- Trees and plants show stress
- Strict water rationing is implemented
- Cattle have little feed; crops are dying
- Mosquito-borne disease outbreak possible
- Water rationing expands; water is being trucked in; water quality is poor; aquifers are shrinking
- Puerto Rico has experienced little or no exceptional (D4) drought, so there are no D4-level drought impacts recorded in the Drought Impact Reporter.
- Streamflow is low
- Crops are stressed; farmers begin to conserve water
- Fire danger increases
- Reservoir levels decline; lake banks are exposed; streamflow continues to decrease
- Planting is delayed; ranchers are feeding cattle; hay is scarce; agriculture sector is suffering
- Trees and plants show stress
- Strict water rationing is implemented
- Cattle have little feed; crops are dying
- Mosquito-borne disease outbreak possible
- Water rationing expands; water is being trucked in; water quality is poor; aquifers are shrinking
- Puerto Rico has experienced little or no exceptional (D4) drought, so there are no D4-level drought impacts recorded in the Drought Impact Reporter.
Explore Drought Conditions by City and Municipality
View up-to-date drought conditions down to the city and municipality level, including temperature, and precipitation conditions, key drought indicators, outlooks, historical conditions, and water supply, agriculture, and public health maps.
Drought in Puerto Rico from 2000–Present
The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1–D4) in Puerto Rico lasted 80 weeks beginning on May 5, 2015, and ending on November 8, 2016. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of August 11, 2015, where D3 affected 24.92% of Puerto Rico land.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is a national map released every Thursday, showing parts of the U.S. that are currently in drought. The USDM relies on drought experts to synthesize the best available data and work with local observers to interpret the information. The USDM also incorporates ground truthing and information about how drought is affecting people, via a network of more than 450 observers across the country, including state climatologists, National Weather Service staff, Extension agents, and hydrologists. Learn more.
Web Resources for Puerto Rico
U.S. Caribbean Drought Status Updates
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Extension Service
NDMC | Puerto Rico Drought Planning Resources
USDA Farm Service Agency | Puerto Rico
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | SJU – San Juan
National Weather Service | Drought Information Statements for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Caribbean
Tell us how drought is impacting your community by submitting a condition monitoring report. Your submissions help us better understand how drought is affecting local conditions.