Dryness Continues in Some Parts of Northeast Iowa & Southeast Minnesota

Updated on Thursday, November 26, 2020
Next Scheduled Update:  Thursday, December 17, 2020

From November 10 to November 24, precipitation totals ranged from 0.65 inches at Fayette, IA (Fayette County) to 2.92 inches at Guttenberg Lock and Dam 10 IA (Clayton County)  With precipitation deficits since July 1 in the 3 to 5-inch range, abnormally dry (D0) conditions are found across parts of southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa.  Meanwhile, the precipitation anomalies are less than 3 inches in west-central Wisconsin.  Due to this, the abnormally dry (D0) conditions were removed from west-central Wisconsin.   

U.S. Drought Monitor Summary:

In the November 24 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, abnormally dry (D0) to extreme (D3) drought was seen across the western third of Iowa. 

Abnormally dry (D0) to moderate (D1) drought was seen across southwest, west-central, and southwest Minnesota; and central Illinois. 

Abnormally dry (D0) conditions were seen in central, east-central, and southeast Minnesota; west-central Wisconsin; and parts of eastern Iowa.

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

 

State Drought Statistics

Local Area Affected:

Abnormally Dry (D0) in all or parts of:

• Northeast Iowa:  Chickasaw, Fayette, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell, and Winneshiek counties.
   
• Southeast Minnesota:  Fillmore, Houston, Mower, and Wabasha counties.

State/Local Government Actions:

No known actions are taking place at this time.

Climatological Summary:

Since July 1, 3 to 5-inch precipitation deficits have developed across northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota.  Due to these rainfall deficits, abnormally dry (D0) conditions continue.

Here is a map of the precipitation deficits & surpluses from July 1 to November 24, 2020. 

The following tables show the precipitation totals and deficits from July 1 through November 24, 2020.

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 found at the web site:

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
• Minnesota & Wisconsin

Disaster & Drought Assistance:

• USDA
• County Drought Disaster List
• Disaster Assistance Programs FSA
• Emergency Farm Loans
• Emergency Haying & Grazing

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://droInsert Row Beforeught.rcc-acis.org/

As of November 24, the river and stream flows were near-normal in northeast Iowa, near- to above-normal in southeast Minnesota, and above-normal to much above-normal in western Wisconsin.

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 which are at or near record flows can be found at:

• USGS WaterWatch 

The following reports came from the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending on November 22, 2020.

Iowa:

Dry conditions and warmer temperatures allowed Iowa farmers 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork. This included harvesting corn for grain, baling corn stalks, applying fertilizer and manure, and hauling grain to elevators. Farmers in some areas of the State continue to clean up debris from the derecho that blew through in August.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 13% very short, 31% short, 56% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 22% very short, 35% short, 43% adequate and 0% surplus. 

No problems with livestock were reported. Livestock producers continue to allow cattle to graze on corn stalks. Some producers are providing supplemental feed for cattle on pastures.

Minnesota:

Cool, but warmer than normal temperatures along with dry conditions allowed Minnesota farmers to nearly complete the corn harvest. There were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork. An estimated 99% of the corn acreage has been harvested statewide. The University of Minnesota’s Soil, Water, and Climate department reported the recent moderation in temperature looks to prevail through the Thanksgiving holiday until the end of the month. As such, it is likely that November 2020 will end up falling among the 20 warmest Novembers in state history, quite a remarkable turnaround from last month, when we recorded one of the coldest Octobers in history. Field activities included ditch maintenance and tiling projects, manure and fertilizer application, fall tillage and harvesting corn for grain.

The cool, dry weather decreased both topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies statewide. Topsoil moisture condition rated 2% very short, 10% short, 83% adequate and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 4% very short, 14% short, 77% adequate and 5% surplus.

Wisconsin:

Wisconsin had 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork for the week. Sunny, windy conditions this week helped many farmers finish fieldwork for the season. Temperatures were slightly above normal with daytime highs rising into the 50s and 60s during a midweek warm spell. In a few areas of northern Wisconsin, this meant snowmelt and mud, but much of the state had favorable soil moistures for bringing in the last of the corn. Fall tillage and manure spreading continued well ahead of schedule. Reporters commented that many farmers used this week’s good weather to winterize and store their equipment.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 2% very short, 11% short, 76% adequate and 11% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2% very short, 11% short, 77% adequate and 10% surplus.

Soil moisture supply measures how much moisture is present in cropland top soil during the week. Soil moisture is reported as a percentage. The categories very short, short, adequate and surplus must add up to 100%.

Very Short - Soil moisture supplies are significantly less than what is required for normal plant development. Growth has been stopped, or nearly so, and plants are showing visible signs of moisture stress. Under these conditions, plants will quickly suffer irreparable damage.

Short - Soil dry.  Seed germination and/or normal crop growth and development would be curtailed.

Adequate - Soil moist.  Seed germination and/or crop growth and development would be normal or unhindered.

Surplus - Soil wet.  Fields may be muddy and will generally be unable to absorb additional moisture.  Young developing crops may be yellowing from excess moisture.

The map below lists the Agricultural Districts in southeast Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northeast Iowa.

For additional information on agriculture impacts may be viewed from the:

• USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
• Iowa
• Minnesota
• Wisconsin

Description of Fire Danger Ratings

• Low fire danger
• Moderate fire danger
• High fire danger
• Very High Danger
• Extreme fire danger

For updated DNR Fire Conditions consult the following Web Sites:

• Minnesota DNR
• Wisconsin DNR

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.

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

• Wildland Fire Assessment System (WFAS)

Burn Bans:

• Iowa

• 8 to 14 Day Outlook
• Experimental Week 3 & 4 Outlooks 
• 30 Day Outlook
• 90 Day Outlook

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

• Weekly
• Monthly
• Seasonal

County Analysis Precipitation Tool

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

Other Contacts:

Local Agricultural Impacts:

• Cooperative Extension Agency
• Farm Service Agency

State climate impacts:

• American Association of State Climatologists (AASC)