Drought in the Northern Mariana Islands is expected to worsen in the next couple of weeks, according to a notice yesterday from the National Weather Service Forecast Office out of Tiyan, Guam.
The NWS notice said that satellite images show very dry weather over the Mariana Islands and remain in short-term moderate drought, called Drought Level 1 of 4.
Some showers have fallen recently; however, much drier weather is expected to develop during the next few weeks.
There has been a rash of grassfires in the CNMI in the last few weeks.
A house in Chalan Kanoa went up in flames this week.
With the expectation of moderate to occasionally strong trade winds over most of Micronesia in the next couple of months, the Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management is advising CNMI residents to refrain from outdoor burning activities so as not to cause wildfires and endanger surrounding life and property.
The Office of HSEM advises to take all necessary precautionary measures at this time; all outdoor burning activity is not recommended and should be delayed.
Visit the following links for the latest advisory information: – NWS Website: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/guam/ – NWS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWSGuam/ – CNMI EOC State Warning Point Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnmieocswp/ (PR, With Saipan Tribune)