Drought Information Statement for Northeast IA, Southeast MN, & Western, WI  
Valid Febuary 13, 2024
Issued By: WFO La Crosse, WI
Contact Information: w-arx.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated March 21, 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 south of Interstate 90.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity:

1-Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 

During the past week, there was a slight expansion in the abnormally dry (D0) conditions across north-central Wisconsin and in Winona County in southeast Minnesota.

Precipitation:

From January 17 through February 14, precipitation totals ranged from 0.03" just east of Stewartville, MN to 1.02" near Elkader, IA. During this period, typically 0.8 to 1.2" of precipitation falls. From April 1, 2023, through February 14, 2024, precipitation departures range from near-normal to 10" below normal north of Interstate 90, and from 8 to just over 19" below normal across the remainder of the area.

Temperature:

During the past month (January 17 through February 15), temperatures ranged from 9°F to 15°F warmer than normal.

Summary of Impacts:

Fire Hazard Impacts:

As of the morning of February 15, fire danger was moderate (fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate) to high (fires start easily and spread at a high 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.

Hydrologic Impacts:

As of the morning of February 15, rivers and stream flows were near normal in northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota, and ranged from near normal to much above normal in western Wisconsin. 

Mitigation Actions:

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

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts:

From January 17 through February 14, precipitation totals ranged from 0.03" just east of Stewartville, MN to 1.02" near Elkader, IA. During this period, typically 0.8 to 1.2" of precipitation falls. From April 1, 2023, through February 14, 2024, precipitation departures range from near-normal to 10" below normal north of Interstate 90, and from 8 to just over 19" below normal across the remainder of the area.

Agricultural Impacts:

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

Fire Hazard Impacts:

As of the morning of February 15, fire danger was moderate (fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate) to high (fires start easily and spread at a high 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 February 15 through February 21, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) is forecasting less than a tenth of an inch along and north of Interstate 90 and across Fayette & Clayton counties in northeast Iowa, and 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 February 23 through February 29, rapid onset drought (at least a 2-category degradation) is not expected.

Long-Range Outlooks:

From March through May, 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 (February 15 through May 31), the drought is expected to persist along and south of Interstate 90.