Drought Information Statement for Northeast IA, Southeast MN, & Western, WI  
Valid January 18, 2024
Issued By: WFO La Crosse, WI
Contact Information: w-arx.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated February 14, 2024 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly.  
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/ARX/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 

U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought intensity and extent:

Northeast Iowa: Severe (D2) to extreme (D3) drought.

Southeast Minnesota: Abnormally dry (D0) to extreme (D3) drought.

Western Wisconsin: Abnormally dry (D0) to severe (D2) drought. The worst of the drought is mainly along and south of Interstate 90.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity:

During the past week, there has been 1-category improvement in the drought in southwest and central Wisconsin.

Precipitation:

From December 21 through January 16, precipitation totals ranged from 1.06" near Owen, IA to 3.23" near Oelwein, IA. During this period, typically 0.8 to 1.2" of precipitation falls.

With over 2" water equivalent in the snowpack; and GRACE, CPC Leaky Bucket, and Crop-CASMA suggesting some improvement in groundwater moisture, there was a 1-category improvement in parts of central and southwest Wisconsin.

Temperature:

During the past month (December 19  through January 17), temperatures ranged from 3°F to 15°F warmer than normal.

Summary of Impacts:

Fire Hazard Impacts...

As of the morning of January 16, fire danger was moderate (fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate) across northeast Iowa.
Meanwhile, there was low (fires start easily and spread at a low rate) fire danger in southeast Minnesota. and western Wisconsin.

Mitigation Actions...

No known actions are currently taking place at this time in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and western Wisconsin.

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts:

From December 21 through January 16, precipitation totals ranged from 1.06" near Owen, IA to 3.23" near Oelwein, IA. During this period, typically 0.8 to 1.2" of precipitation falls. 

As of the morning of January 16, many rivers and streams in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and western Wisconsin were iced over.

Agricultural Impacts:

Soil moisture remains below normal along and south of Interstate 90.

Fire Hazard Impacts:
As of the morning of January 16, 2024, fire danger was moderate (fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate) across northeast Iowa.

Meanwhile, there was low (fires start easily and spread at a low rate) fire danger in southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin. 

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast: 

From January 18 through January 25, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) is forecasting less than a tenth of an inch north of Interstate 90 and from a tenth to a half-inch elsewhere.

The highest totals are forecast to be in southern Grant County in southwest Wisconsin.

Normal precipitation is around 3-tenths of an inch for this time period.

Rapid Onset Drought Outlook:

With enhanced chances of above-normal temperature and below-normal precipitation from January 26 through February 1, rapid onset drought (at least a 2-category degradation) is not expected.

Long-Range Outlooks: 

From February through April, there is enhanced chances for warmer-than-normal temperatures. Meanwhile, there are equal chances of wetter-, near-, and drier-than-normal.

Drought Outlook:

According to the latest U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook (January 18 through April 30), the drought is expected to persist along and south of Interstate 90.