Drought Information Statement for Central and Southeast Illinois Valid December 21, 2023 Issued By: WFO Lincoln, IL Contact Information: nws.lincoln@noaa.gov This product will be updated by Dec. 29, 2023 unless conditions improve. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/ilx/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Drought Intensity and Extent: D2: (Severe Drought): Focused on south central and southeast Illinois, including Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland, and Lawrence Counties. Portions of Cumberland and Clark Counties are included as well, along with Schuyler County in west central Illinois. D1 (Moderate Drought): Focused south of a Shelbyville to Danville line in east central Illinois including Shelby, Coles, Edgar, Cumberland, and Clark Counties. Portions of Schuyler and Scott Counties in west central Illinois are included as well. Recent Change in Drought Intensity One Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: None Drought Improved: Portions of Knox, Fulton, Piatt, and Champaign Counties No Change: Most of central and southeast Illinois remained status quo. Precipitation Rainfall over the last 30 days 50 to 75% of normal for southeast and east-central IL, but was near to as much as 150% of normal (50% above normal) for most of central IL. Last 30 days Temperature Summarize conditions/impacts here Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts Low flows on area streams and rivers, as well as below normal reservoir levels on Lake Shelbyville 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 None reported Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Streamflows are below 25th percentile in southeast and east central Illinois, as well as west central Illinois. Lake Shelbyville has slightly below normal water level (0.7 foot below normal), while other large water sources such as Lake Springfield and Lake Decatur have slightly above normal water levels for this time of year. Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid December 20, 2023. Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture at the 20 cm level is below the 30th to 70th percentile in the drought areas of central and southeast IL Agricultural impacts are not significant at this time, as crops are harvested or dormant at this time of year Image Captions: Left: 1-week Evaporative Demand Drought Index valid November 25, 2023 Right: 7-day Evapotranspiration ending December 1, 2023 Fire Hazard Impacts Summarize conditions/impacts here Image Captions: Left: Keetch-Byram Drought Index courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, valid August 31, 2023 Right: Significant Wildland Fire Potential Monthly Outlook for August 2023 Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast A couple of weather systems are on track to bring much needed precipitation to central and southeast IL over the next week. Forecast amounts are from one half to 1.5 inches across the area, which could potentially be enough to mitigate drought conditions to some extent. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. Summarize conditions and impacts here Image Caption: Days 8 to 14 U.S. Hazards Outlook Valid Month DD to DD. Long Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The ongoing El Niño pattern favors higher odds of precipitation being below normal for January, as well as through the winter. Monthly outlook (issued last day of month) Seasonal outlook (issued 3rd Thursday of month) Monthly outlook (issued 3rd Thursday of month) Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Drought conditions are likely to persist or develop in much of southeast, east-central, and west-central IL much of the winter. Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released December 21, 2023 valid for December through February Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook