U.S. Drought Monitor Declares 'Extreme Drought' in Southern Puerto Rico, Impacting Agriculture
The U.S. Drought Monitor has declared an 'extreme drought' condition in parts of southern Puerto Rico, as reported in their latest update. This declaration follows a period of significantly reduced rainfall, with July marking the driest month on record for San Juan since records began in 1899. The drought has intensified rapidly, affecting the central-southern and western regions of the island. The report also notes that severe drought conditions have expanded to the central-southern areas and are now connecting with existing drought zones in the northeast. The lack of rainfall has led to water rationing measures, particularly affecting those reliant on the Carraízo reservoir. The drought has also severely impacted agriculture, with unofficial reports indicating a 69% decrease in coffee production and reduced yields in peppers and fruits. 
