U.S. Virgin Islands
The U.S. Drought Monitor depicts the location and intensity of drought across the country. The map uses 5 classifications: Abnormally Dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought (D1–D4).
This map is used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to trigger disaster declarations and loan eligibility. Individual states and water supply planning may use additional information to inform their declarations and actions.
Drought & Dryness Categories
No Drought
No drought or abnormally dry conditions are present, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Abnormally Dry
Abnormally Dry (D0) indicates a region that is going into or coming out of drought. View typical impacts by state.
Moderate Drought
Moderate Drought (D1) is the first of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
Severe Drought
Severe Drought (D2) is the second of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
Extreme Drought
Extreme Drought (D3) is the third of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
Exceptional Drought
Exceptional Drought (D4) is the most intense drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
No Data
No data are available for this location.
The U.S. Drought Monitor depicts the location and intensity of drought across the country. The map uses 5 classifications: Abnormally Dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought (D1–D4).
This map is used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to trigger disaster declarations and loan eligibility. Individual states and water supply planning may use additional information to inform their declarations and actions.
This map is released every Thursday morning, with data valid through Tuesday at 7am Eastern.
Drought in the U.S. Virgin Islands
The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) is a small territory to the east of Puerto Rico that consists of three main islands—St Thomas, St Croix, and St John—and a few smaller, mostly unpopulated islands. Due to its geographical location in the center of the Caribbean, the USVI has two distinct seasons—the hurricane (wet) season from August to November and the dry season for the remainder of the year. Typically, about 40% of the annual rainfall occurs in the 3 wettest months, from September to November. Typical of many tropical islands, easternmost and leeward areas have the greatest aridity and sometimes feature vegetation (e.g., cacti) and landscapes (e.g., lack of trees) more typical of tropical dry forest and grasslands than a tropical rainforest.
Impacts from drought can be consequential since there are no significant sources of surface water (e.g., perennial rivers) and minimal groundwater due to the high relief of the islands. Most of the population draws their water from cisterns that collect rooftop water, and the rest are dependent on groundwater. Many must purchase water purified by reverse osmosis when there are no other sources. Drought also parches pastures and dries up ponds, which directly harms food and livestock production across the islands. With temperatures continuing to rise incrementally, future droughts should increase in number and be more impactful, with greater impacts on agriculture, water sources and community water collection in the territory.
NIDIS supports eight regional Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS) throughout the United States. In addition, NIDIS supports states and territories outside these regions, like the U.S. Virgin Islands, by delivering drought early warning information through Drought.gov; investing in drought research to address key scientific and societal needs; and supporting the development of new tools and products that serve the entire nation.
Outlooks & Forecasts for Arizona
Predicting drought in the U.S. Virgin Islands depends on the ability to forecast precipitation and temperature within the context of complex climate interactions. View more outlooks & forecasts.
Monthly Drought Outlook
Drought Is Predicted To...
Drought Persists
During this time period, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts that drought conditions will persist.
Drought Improves
During this time period, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts that existing drought conditions will improve (but not be removed).
Drought Is Removed
During this time period, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts that drought will be removed.
Drought Develops
During this time period, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts that drought will develop.
No Drought Present
According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, there is no drought, and is drought development is not predicted.
The Monthly Drought Outlook predicts whether drought will develop, remain, improve, or be removed in the next calendar month.
The Climate Prediction Center issues its Monthly Drought Outlooks on the last day of the calendar month.
Snow drought is a period of abnormally low snowpack for the time of year. Snowpack typically acts as a natural reservoir, providing water throughout the drier summer months. Lack of snowpack storage, or a shift in timing of snowmelt, can be a challenge for drought planning.
Learn MorePeriods of drought can lead to inadequate water supply, threatening the health, safety, and welfare of communities. Streamflow, groundwater, reservoir, and snowpack data are key to monitoring and forecasting water supply.
Learn MoreDrought can reduce the water availability and water quality necessary for productive farms, ranches, and grazing lands, resulting in significant negative direct and indirect economic impacts to the agricultural sector. Monitoring agricultural drought typically focuses on examining levels of precipitation, evaporative demand, soil moisture, and surface/groundwater quantity and quality.
Learn MoreDuring drought conditions, fuels for wildfire, such as grasses and trees, can dry out and become more flammable. Drought can also increase the probability of ignition and the rate at which fire spreads. Temperature, soil moisture, humidity, wind speed, and fuel availability (vegetation) are all factors that interact to influence the frequency of large wildfires.
Learn MoreSeasonal (3-Month) Drought Outlook
Drought Is Predicted To...
Drought Persists
During this time period, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts that drought conditions will persist.
Drought Improves
During this time period, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts that existing drought conditions will improve (but not be removed).
Drought Is Removed
During this time period, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts that drought will be removed.
Drought Develops
During this time period, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts that drought will develop.
No Drought Present
According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, there is no drought, and is drought development is not predicted.
The Seasonal Drought Outlook predicts whether drought will develop, remain, improve, or be removed in the next 3 months or so.
The Climate Prediction Center issues its Seasonal Drought Outlooks on the third Thursday of each calendar month. Sometimes, the map is adjusted on the last day of the month to maintain consistency with the Monthly Drought Outlook.
Snow drought is a period of abnormally low snowpack for the time of year. Snowpack typically acts as a natural reservoir, providing water throughout the drier summer months. Lack of snowpack storage, or a shift in timing of snowmelt, can be a challenge for drought planning.
Learn MorePeriods of drought can lead to inadequate water supply, threatening the health, safety, and welfare of communities. Streamflow, groundwater, reservoir, and snowpack data are key to monitoring and forecasting water supply.
Learn MoreDrought can reduce the water availability and water quality necessary for productive farms, ranches, and grazing lands, resulting in significant negative direct and indirect economic impacts to the agricultural sector. Monitoring agricultural drought typically focuses on examining levels of precipitation, evaporative demand, soil moisture, and surface/groundwater quantity and quality.
Learn MoreDuring drought conditions, fuels for wildfire, such as grasses and trees, can dry out and become more flammable. Drought can also increase the probability of ignition and the rate at which fire spreads. Temperature, soil moisture, humidity, wind speed, and fuel availability (vegetation) are all factors that interact to influence the frequency of large wildfires.
Learn MoreDrought Resources for the U.S. Virgin Islands
Stay Informed: Local Drought Updates
Regional Drought Status Updates
NIDIS & its partners issue regional updates covering drought conditions, outlooks/forecasts, and local impacts.
Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands Drought Email List
Get regional drought status updates right to your inbox, as well as drought news, webinars, and other events for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Local Drought Resources
National Weather Service:
- San Juan Weather Forecast Office
- Rainfall Forecasts for the USVI
- National Water Prediction Service (NWPS) Precipitation Data
- Drought Information Statements for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Caribbean
Virgin Islands Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VI-EPSCoR)
CoCoRaHS | U.S. Virgin Islands
Drought in your area? 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.