Last week Molokai received two days if rain that resulted in some flooding east end. Yet in spite of this island-wide soaking, drought conditions in the western third of Molokai, along with parts of leeward Maui and the Big Island, have worsened. Right now, these areas, and Hawaii in general, have the worst drought conditions on the country, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
While Molokai’s East End receives an average of 240 inches of rainfall a year, the West End is a study in contrast. The Kualapuu Reservoir — at one time the world’s largest rubber-lined reservoir — is now below its normal level and mandatory 20 percent reduction in irrigation water use remains in effect.
According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, The El Niño phenomenon is responsible for the below-normal precipitation. As a result, Moloka’I ranchers are losing cattle and having to cull herds more than normal so the remaining animals have enough to eat.
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