La Crosse, WI

Weather Forecast Office

No Change in the Drought Situation

Summary
River and Stream Flow
Fire Hazards
Precip & Temp Outlooks
Questions?

No Change in the Drought Situation

Updated on Thursday, January 20, 2022
Next Scheduled Update: Thursday, February 18, 2022

Summary:

From December 28, 2021, through January 21, 2022 precipitation totals ranged from 0.24 inches near Owen, WI to 0.99 inches at New Hampton, IA. During this time frame, precipitation totals are typically around 1 inch. The driest area continues to be found in central Wisconsin where moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought continues.

Longer-term precipitation deficits (January 1, 2021, to January 21, 2022) of 10 to 15 inches continue to produce moderate (D1) drought across southern Grant County in southwest Wisconsin, and in southeast Clayton, southwest Floyd, and western Mitchell counties in northeast Iowa.

U.S. Drought Monitor Summary:

In the January 18 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, abnormally dry (D0) to severe (D2) drought continued across the northern third of Minnesota, central Wisconsin, southeast Wisconsin, and northeast Illinois.

Abnormally dry (D0) to moderate (D1) drought was found across northern, southwest, and south-central Wisconsin; east-central and south-central Minnesota; north-central, east-central, and northeast Iowa; and northwest Illinois.

Abnormally dry (D0) was observed in parts of northwest and southeast Iowa.

Note: The data cutoff for Drought Monitor maps is Tuesday at 7 a.m. Central Daylight Time.

State Drought Statistics


Iowa	Minnesota	Wisconsin

Local Area Affected:

Moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought in all or parts of:

Central Wisconsin: Adams and Juneau counties.

Abnormally Dry (D0) to moderate (D1) drought in all or parts of:

Northeast Iowa: Clayton, Floyd, and Mitchell counties.
Western Wisconsin: Grant, Jackson, Monroe, Taylor, and Vernon counties.

Abnormally Dry (D1) in all or parts of:

Northeast Iowa: Fayette and Chickasaw counties.
Southeast Minnesota: Dodge, Mower, Olmsted, and Wabasha counties.
Western Wisconsin: Clark, Crawford, and Richland counties.

La Crosse WI CWA Latest Drought Information

State/Local Government Actions:

No known actions are taking place at this time.

Climatological Summary:

August 2021-January 2022:

From August 1, 2021, through January 21, 2022, 2 to 7-inch precipitation deficits were found across central Wisconsin. This has resulted in abnormally dry (D0) to severe (D2) drought in this area.

Longer-Term Deficits from January 1, 2021, to January 21, 2022:

Precipitation deficits ranged from 10 to 15 inches across southern Grant County in southwest Wisconsin, and in southeast Clayton, southwest Floyd, and western Mitchell counties in northeast Iowa. This has resulted in moderate (D1) drought conditions in these counties.

The maps below show precipitation deficits and surpluses for August-December, and January 1 2021 to January 21, 2022.


August 1, 2021, to January 21, 2022 Precipitation Departures	January 1, 2021, to January 21, 2022 Precipitation Departures

Due to these short and long-term precipitation deficits, severe (D2) drought covered 3.6% of the La Crosse Hydrologic Service Area (HSA). Moderate (D1) drought covered 12.1% of the area, and another 26.7% is abnormally dry (D0).

The U.S. Drought Monitor is a weekly collaborative effort between a number of federal agencies including NOAA/NWS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Drought Mitigation Center. Details and explanations of the Drought Monitor can be found at the website:

U.S. Drought Monitor

The categories of drought are defined as follows:

Abnormally Dry (D0) - Going into drought: short-term dryness slowing planting, growth of crops or pastures; fire risk above average. Coming out of drought: some lingering water deficits; pastures or crops not fully recovered.

Moderate Drought (D1) - Some damage to crops, pastures; fire risk high; streams, reservoirs, or wells low, some water shortages developing or imminent, voluntary water use restrictions requested.

Severe Drought (D2) - Crop or pasture losses likely; fire risk very high; water shortages common; water restrictions imposed.

Extreme Drought (D3) - Major crop/pasture losses; extreme fire danger; widespread water shortages or restrictions.

Exceptional Drought (D4) - Exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; exceptional fire risk; shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells, creating water emergencies.

Potential Evapotranspiration Rates:

Iowa

Disaster & Drought Assistance:

Other Drought Web Sites:

Minnesota DNR
ReadyWisconsin (Part of the Wisconsin Emergency Management Team)

Drought ACIS:

This tool allows you the ability to explore data related to drought from the Regional Climate Centers (RCCs). You can look at length or periods without rain, temperature data, and more. Click on the logo below to gain access to this tool.

http://dro ught.rcc-acis.org/

River and Stream Flow Conditions:

As of the morning of January 21, the river and stream flows were near normal in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and in southwest and central Wisconsin.

NOTE: This is time-sensitive and conditions could change. Updated river and streamflow conditions can be found via links to the right.

Hourly and forecast river stages out to 90 days can be found at:

NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS)

Additional Current stream and river stages may be viewed at:

USGS WaterWatch

An interactive table of sites that are at or near record flows can be found at:

USGS WaterWatch

Fire Danger Hazards:

As of the morning of January 21, there was moderate (fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate) to high (fires start easily and spread at a high rate) fire danger in northeast Iowa. Meanwhile, there was low (fires are not easily started) fire danger in southeast Minnesota, and from southwest into central Wisconsin.

NOTE: This is time-sensitive and conditions could change day-to-day Fire conditions can change drastically on drier, windy days. Updated DNR fire conditions can be found via links to the right.

Citizens should always check with local officials in their area before undertaking any outside burning. Citizens are liable for damages and suppression costs of any wildfire they may start.

Description of Fire Danger Ratings

For updated DNR Fire Conditions consult the following Web Sites:

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is a drought index that is specifically related to fire potential. The KDBI is broken into four categories which indicate the susceptibility of ground fuels to fire danger. Below are the four categories and a brief description of each.

Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KDBI)
KBDI Value	Description of Fire Potential
0 to 200	Low - Wet with little danger of fire initiation
201 to 400	Moderate - Drying occurring with some fire danger
401 to 600	High - Ground cover dry and will burn readily
601 to 800	Extreme - Dead and live fuels will burn readily

KBDI and Dead Fuel Moisture data can be found through the:

Wildland Fire Assessment System (WFAS)

Burn Bans:

Iowa

Precipitation/Temperature Outlooks:

From January 21 through January 27, temperatures will average below normal, and precipitation will be near to above normal. During this time frame, daily average temperatures range from 13 to 18°F, and the normal precipitation is around 3 tenths of an inch.

Beyond this time frame, the 8 to 14-day forecast (January 28 to February 3) from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) calls for enhanced chances for near- and above-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation. The daily average temperatures for this period range from 14 to 19°F and the normal precipitation is around 3 tenths of an inch.

For February, the Climate Prediction Center has tilted the odds slightly toward wetter-than-normal across much of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Meanwhile, there are equal chances for warmer-, near-, and colder-than-normal.

From March through May 2022, the Climate Prediction Center has tilted the odds slightly toward wetter-than-normal across much of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Meanwhile, there are equal chances for warmer-, near-, and colder-than-normal.

Below are the seasonal outlooks for the next year.


Temperatures	Precipitation

For updated temperature and precipitation probabilities consult the following Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Web Sites:

NCEP's CFSv2 (Coupled Forecast System Model Version 2):

County Analysis Precipitation Tool

Questions or Comments:

If you have any questions or comments about this drought information please contact the NWS La Crosse at:

E-mail: nws.lacrosse@noaa.gov
Telephone: 608-784-8275

The climate and drought focal point at the NWS La Crosse is Jeff Boyne.

Other Contacts:

Local Agricultural Impacts:

State climate impacts:

American Association of State Climatologists (AASC)