Drought Information Statement for Northeast IA, Southeast MN, & Western, WI 
Valid May 2, 2024
Issued By: WFO La Crosse, WI
Contact Information: w-arx.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated May 9, 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. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates.
There were no changes in the drought during the past week. 

Drought intensity and Extent

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

D0: (Abnormally Dry) to D2 (Severe Drought): South of Interstate 90 in Wisconsin.

D0: (Abnormally Dry) to D1 (Moderate Drought): Southeast Minnesota.

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

Recent Change in Drought Intensity

During the past week, there was no change in the drought for NWS La Crosse, WI Hydrologic Service Area (HSA).

Precipitation
From April 24 through April 30, rainfall totals ranged from 0.42" near Oelwein to 2.52" near Dickeyville, IA. Normally, around 0.9" of precipitation falls during this period.
The heaviest rainfall was not widespread enough to cause an improvement in the drought.

Temperature
During the past week (April 22 through April 28), temperatures ranged from 1°F colder than normal to normal.

During the past month (March 28 through April 28), most of the area saw near-normal temperatures.


Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
There are no known impacts at this time.

Agricultural Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time.

Fire Hazard Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time.

Other Impacts
There are no known impacts at this time.

Mitigation Actions
There is a Drought Watch for Region 3 in northeast Iowa. 

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
From April 24 through April 30, rainfall totals ranged from 0.42" near Oelwein to 2.52" near Dickeyville, IA. Normally, around 0.9" of precipitation falls during this period. The heaviest rainfall was not widespread enough to cause an improvement in the drought.

As of the morning of May 2, rivers and stream flows ranged from much below to above normal in northeast Iowa, and below to much above normal in southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Agricultural Impacts
Due to recent rain, top soil moisture has returned to normal for northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and western Wisconsin.

Fire Hazard Impacts
As of the morning of May 2, 2024…Fire danger was low (fires start easily and spread at a low rate) fire danger in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and western Wisconsin.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
From May 2 through May 9, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) is forecasting 1.25 to 2.5” across the area. The highest totals are in northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin. Normal precipitation is around a 0.9” for this time period.

Rapid Onset Drought Outlook
From May 10-16, 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 (May 1 through July 31), the drought is expected to improve along and south of Interstate 90.