04/09/2026
🪵🍂 DROUGHT MASLUMALAWAK ANG NAAPEKTOHAN ‼️
Comprehensive long-term soil moisture analytics show that critical drought conditions persist and remain at extreme levels across broad areas of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
AFFECTED PROVINCES BY DROUGHT SEVERITY
(Categorized based on the highest drought intensity level touching any portion of the province)
🔴 EXCEPTIONAL TO EXTREME
▪️ LUZON: Albay, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Isabela, Laguna, Marinduque, Masbate, Nueva Vizcaya, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Quezon, Quirino, Sorsogon
▪️ VISAYAS: Aklan, Antique, Biliran, Bohol, Capiz, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Samar, Siquijor, Southern Leyte
▪️ MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Basilan, Bukidnon, Cotabato (North Cotabato), Davao City, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay
🟠 MODERATE TO SEVERE
▪️ LUZON: Aurora, Cagayan, Ifugao,
▪️ VISAYAS: None (All major provinces face Exceptional to Extreme levels)
▪️ MINDANAO: Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Sulu
🟡 MINOR TO MILD
▪️ LUZON: Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Apayao, Mt. Province, Kalinga, Apayao, Laguna
▪️ VISAYAS: None
▪️ MINDANAO: Tawi-Tawi
DROUGHT SEVERITY LEGEND EXPLANATION
▪️ Exceptional to Extreme (Red to Dark Red): Severe to total soil moisture depletion. Crops experience extreme stress or wilting, groundwater tables drop sharply, and river discharge decreases drastically.
▪️ Moderate to Severe (Orange to Dark Orange): Significant moisture deficit in root zones, leading to agricultural stress, reduced crop productivity, and low reservoir recharge.
▪️ Minor to Mild (Yellow to Light Orange): Early-stage moisture deficiency or dry spell, indicating areas vulnerable to developing deeper drought if dry conditions persist.
WHY LOCAL RAIN DOES NOT MEAN DROUGHT IS OVER
▪️ Root-Zone Moisture Deficit: Drought intensity models measure deep soil moisture levels (0–40 cm and 0–100 cm depth), where agricultural crops and aquifers draw water.
▪️ Surface Rain vs. Deep Saturation: Passing rain showers or short localized thunderstorms only moisten the uppermost layer of topsoil, which rapidly evaporates in warm weather. Brief rain events do not pe*****te deep into the subsoil or recharge depleted aquifers.
▪️ Sustained Recovery Required: Resolving a deep hydrological or agricultural drought requires weeks of consistent, soaking rainfall to rebuild groundwater reserves and fully saturate subsoil layers.
SOURCE: Windy.com / CzechGlobe (Drought Intensity Model)
