Drought Information Statement for Northeast IA, Southeast MN, & Western, WI Valid November 16, 2023 Issued By: WFO La Crosse, WI Contact Information: w-arx.webmaster@noaa.gov This product will be updated November 23, 2023 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 extreme (D3) drought. The drought is mainly south of Interstate 90. Recent Change in Drought Intensity... 1-Week Drought Monitor Class Change. During the past week, there has been no change in the drought situation. Precipitation... From November 8 through November 14, little precipitation fell across the area. This resulted no change in the drought situation this week. Temperature... During the past month (October 19 through November 17), temperatures have ranged from 1°F to 2.5°F warmer than normal. Summary of Impacts... Flows continue to range from below to near-normal in northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota. The lowest flows were found along Little Cedar near Ionia, IA (22% of normal); Turkey River at Spillville, IA (26% of normal); and South Fork Zumbro River at Rochester, MN (26% of normal). Agricultural Impacts... There are some reports of some producers selling livestock due to a lack of water and having to feed hay. Fire Hazard Impacts... As of the morning of November 14, fire danger was high (fires start easily and spread at a high rate) in northeast Iowa; southeast Minnesota; and in Adams, Buffalo, Clark, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, and Monroe counties in Wisconsin. Moderate (fires start easily and spread at a low rate) fire danger in Crawford, Grant, Richland, Taylor, and Vernon counties. Mitigation Actions... A drought task force has been activated in Wisconsin. In Iowa, CRP land was opened for emergency haying and grazing. No known actions are currently taking place at this time in Minnesota. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts... From November 8 through November 14, precipitation totals ranged from no precipitation to around 2-tenths of an inch. The heaviest precipitation was 0.21" at Medford, WI. During this time period, typically 4-tenths of an inch of precipitation falls. With below-normal precipitation falling during the past week, there was no change in the drought situation this week. Flows ranged from below to near-normal in northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota. Agricultural Impacts... Due to more demand and very poor growing conditions, hay prices dramatically rose this summer & autumn. There are some reports of some producers selling livestock due to a lack of water and having to feed hay. Fire Hazard Impacts... As of the morning of November 14, fire danger was high (fires start easily and spread at a high rate) in northeast Iowa; southeast Minnesota; and in Adams, Buffalo, Clark, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, and Monroe counties in Wisconsin. Moderate (fires start easily and spread at a low rate) fire danger in Crawford, Grant, Richland, Taylor, and Vernon counties. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast... From November 18 through November 25, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) is forecasting up to a half inch. The highest totals are forecast in northern and eastern Wisconsin. Normal rainfall is around 4-tenths of an inch for this time period. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook With below-normal temperatures and precipitation forecast, rapid onset drought (at least a 2 category degradation) is not expected in the area from November 25 through December 1. Long-Range Outlooks... From December through February, there is enhanced chances for warmer-than-normal temperatures. Meanwhile, there are equal chances of above-, near-, and below-normal precipitation. Drought Outlook... According to the latest U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook (October 31 through January 31), the drought is expected to persist along and south of Interstate 90.