Drought Information Statement for Northeast IA, Southeast MN, & Western, WI  
Valid April 18, 2024
Issued By: WFO La Crosse, WI
Contact Information: 
This product will be updated April 18, 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/[WFO]/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/[link] for regional drought status updates.

There were no changes in the drought during the past week. 


U.S. Drought Monitor
Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for [region]


Drought intensity and Extent

D1 (Moderate Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought): Northeast Iowa

D0: (Abnormally Dry) to D2 (Severe Drought): Southeast Minnesota and south of Interstate 90 in Wisconsin.

D0: (Abnormally Dry): North of Interstate 90 in Wisconsin.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity

There were no changes in the drought for the NWS La Crosse, WI Hydrologic Service Area (HSA) during the past week.

Precipitation
From April 9 through April 16, precipitation totals ranged from a trace of precipitation to 1.63" at the Prestone Fillmore County Airport (Fillmore County). Normally, around 1" of precipitation falls during this period. From April 1, 2023, through April 16, 2024 (long-term dryness), precipitation departures range from 9 to 19.25" below normal south of Interstate 90.

Temperature
During the past month (March 19 through April 17), temperatures ranged from 2°F colder than normal to 2°F warmer than normal. The coolest temperature anomalies were near Interstate 90.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
As of the morning of April 16, rivers and stream flows ranged from much below to above normal in northeast Iowa, below to normal in western Wisconsin, and near-normal in southeast Minnesota.

Agricultural Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time.

Fire Hazard Impacts
As of the morning of April 17, fire danger was moderate (fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate) in northeast Iowa, and there was low (fires start easily and spread at a low rate) fire danger across the remainder of the area.

Other Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time.

Mitigation Actions
There is a Drought Watch for Region 3 in northeast Iowa. For more information, see the Iowa Drought Plan.

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
From April 9 through April 16, precipitation totals ranged from a trace of precipitation to 1.63" at the Prestone Fillmore County Airport (Fillmore County). Normally, around 1" of precipitation falls during this period. These precipitation totals were not high enough to cause any improvements in the drought. From April 1, 2023, through April 16, 2024 (long-term dryness), precipitation departures range from 9 to 19.25" below normal south of Interstate 90.

As of the morning of April 16, rivers and stream flows ranged from much below to above normal in northeast Iowa, below to normal in western Wisconsin, and near-normal in southeast Minnesota.
Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow 

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

Fire Hazard Impacts
As of the morning of April 17, 2024, fire danger was moderate (fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate) in northeast Iowa, and there was low (fires start easily and spread at a low rate) fire danger across the remainder of the area.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
From April 18 through April 24, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) is forecasting 1 to 2” across the area. The highest totals are along and south of Interstate 94. Normal precipitation is around a 1” for this time period.

Rapid Onset Drought Outlook
Through May 2, rapid onset drought (at least a 2-category degradation) is not expected.

Long-Range Outlooks
From May through July, 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 (April 18 through July 31), the drought is expected to improve along and south of Interstate 90.