Drought Comes to an End for the Area

Updated on Thursday, April 28, 2022
Next Scheduled Update:  Thursday, May 5, 2022

From April 20 to April 26, precipitation totals ranged from a half to around 2 inches. The largest precipitation totals were in Strawberry Point, IA (2.08 inches); near Lancaster, WI (1.87 inches), and Guttenberg Lock & Dam 10 (1.85 inches). Above-normal precipitation this spring has alleviated the moderate (D1) drought across central and southwest Wisconsin and in northeast Iowa.  This is the first week with no drought in the La Crosse Hydrological Services Area (HSA) since April 20, 2021.

U.S. Drought Monitor Summary:

In the April 26 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought in west-central Iowa.

Abnormally dry (D0) conditions to a moderate (D1) drought were found in north-central Iowa.

Abnormally dry (D0) conditions continued in the Minnesota Arrowhead; north-central Minnesota; southwest and south-central Minnesota; northwest Wisconsin, the southern third of Wisconsin, far northern Illinois, and east-central 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 (D1) in all or parts of:

• Northeast Iowa:  Clayton, Floyd, and Mitchell counties.
• Southeast Minnesota:  Mower County.
• Western Wisconsin:  Adams, Grant, and Juneau counties.

State/Local Government Actions:

No known actions are taking place at this time.

Climatological Summary:

Spring 2022:

• From March 1 through April 26, 2022, there are up to 2-inch precipitation deficits from Charles City, IA to Sparta, WI. Elsewhere, there were up to 4-inch surpluses of precipitation. It was these surpluses that alleviated the drought across parts of northeast Iowa and from southwest into central Wisconsin. This is the first week with no drought in the La Crosse Hydrological Services Area (HSA) since April 20, 2021.

Since Last July:

• From July 1, 2021, through April 26, 2022, 2 to 6-inch precipitation deficits were found from Clayton County, IA, and Grant County, WI northeast into central Wisconsin. Due to these long-term deficits, abnormally dry (D0) conditions still persist in parts of the area.

The maps below show precipitation deficits and surpluses for various time periods.

March 1 through April 26, 2022 Precipitation Departures	July 1, 2021, to April 26, 2022 Precipitation Departures

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:

• 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://drought.rcc-acis.org/

As of the morning of April 26, the river and stream flow ranged from normal to much above-normal in northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota and near-normal from southwest into 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 

The following reports came from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending on April 24, 2022.

Iowa:

Rain, high winds, and cold conditions continued to stall spring planting, limiting Iowa farmers to 2.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week. Fieldwork activities were primarily applying anhydrous and fertilizer. Reports were received of limited corn and soybean planting as well as planting oats. In addition to periodic precipitation, cool soil temperatures have some farmers waiting to plant row crops.

• Topsoil moisture conditions rated 4 percent very short, 18 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus.
• Subsoil moisture conditions rated 9 percent very short, 29 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.

Forty-seven percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 10 days behind last year and 5 days behind the 5-year average.

Pastures were slowly turning green. Hay supplies were dwindling in some areas. Livestock conditions were generally good, with calving in full swing.
 

Minnesota:

Continued below-average temperatures and wet fields limited farmers to just 0.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week.

• Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 7 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 27 percent surplus.
• Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 17 percent short, 63 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. 

Oats planted were reported at 2 percent, and all other crops remained at 0 percent planted. The planting progress as of April 24 is the lowest since 2013.

Wisconsin:

Wisconsin had 1.7 days suitable for fieldwork for the week. The first part of the week provided yet more precipitation and cool temperatures, which averaged 3.5°F below normal for the week. The weekend, however, provided a glimpse of warm weather, and windy conditions helped to start drying out fields. Manure hauling and spring tillage continued where fields were able to support machinery.

• Topsoil moisture conditions rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 25 percent surplus.
• Subsoil moisture conditions rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus.

Spring tillage was reported as 8 percent complete, almost 3 weeks behind last year and 11 days behind the 5-year average.

Oats planted were reported as 8 percent complete, 18 days behind last year, and 12 days behind the average.

Potato planting was reported as 13 percent complete, 1 week behind last year, and 2 days behind the average.

Winter wheat condition was rated 68 percent good to excellent statewide, up 7 percentage points from last week.

Pasture condition was rated 41 percent good to excellent, up 3 percentage points from last week.

Soil moisture supply measures how much moisture is present in cropland topsoil 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:

• Iowa Grassland Fire Danger Index
• 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)