A recent map from NASA has illustrated the severity of drought conditions across Puerto Rico. The hot and dry weather is leading to water shortages, concerns in agriculture, and emergency measures that affect tens of thousands of people.
Released by the NASA Earth Observatory on September 2, the map shows drought conditions on the United States territory as of August 25. The data comes from the United States Drought Monitor, which includes the National Drought Mitigation Center, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, NOAA, and NASA as partners.
Rainfall deficits and high temperatures have created unusually dry conditions and have spurred water shortages on much of the tropical archipelago,
NASA stated.
As of the latest report, 75.2 percent of Puerto Rico is experiencing drought conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor notes that 41 percent of the area is under extreme drought, while 21.3 percent faces severe drought conditions. Over 3 million residents live in these affected areas.
Rapid Drought Deterioration
Brandon Wright, a senior meteorologist at ICEYE, highlighted the speed at which the drought has intensified. He noted this drought as among the most intense since data collection started in 1999.
The White House stated in early August that it is monitoring the situation in Puerto Rico. However, no requests have been received by FEMA for assistance so far. Newsweek attempted to reach out to the White House, FEMA, Puerto Rico’s Bureau for Emergency Management and Disaster Administration, and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company for comments.
Meteorological Insights
Meteorologist Wright described the onset of the drought as remarkably fast. He mentioned that only a few months ago, around a third of Puerto Rico was considered ‘abnormally dry’. Now, almost 40 percent is classified as in extreme drought.
A new report prepared by Elena Maksimovich, CTO at Everloop, found that the summer of 2026 was the second driest since 1950. The driest summer was in 1994, known for significant wildfire activity.
The 2026 summer was severe, although not as extreme as 1994, which saw increased wildfire incidents.
El Niño’s Influence
Wright mentions that El Niño may have aggravated the drought. He explained that El Niño typically reduces thunderstorm activity in the Caribbean and limits tropical activity in the Atlantic.
He added that reduced thunderstorms decrease clouds, leading to more heating and drying. Temperature records in San Juan showed May as among the 15 warmest on record, with June being among the 10 warmest, and July and August were the second warmest.
Recent rainfall from Tropical Storm Dolly slightly alleviated drought conditions, yet the impact remains minor overall.
Future Risk and Recommendations
Maksimovich warns of increasing risks related to climate changes, including the likelihood of more extreme heatwaves.
The report also highlighted growing risks from droughts and wildfires. It emphasized the importance of not underestimating the risk of inland and coastal flooding.
Also noted was that water rationing has been common since the 1990s, stressing the need for more water storage. Such restrictions might impact tourism development, agricultural investments, and reliable supply chains for coffee and cacao.