Drought Information Statement for Northern IN, Southern MI, Northwest OH
Valid October 14, 2025
Issued By: NWS Northern Indiana on October 17th, 2025
Contact Information: nws.northernindiana@noaa.gov  574-834-1104
This product will be updated on or after October 23, 2025.
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/iwx/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates.

Drought conditions are largely unchanged since last week’s update:
Small expansion of Extreme Drought (level 3 of 4) into Wells County, IN
Drought conditions improved near the La Porte and Starke County, IN borders
Rain, heavy at times, is expected Saturday through Sunday morning. Rain totals in excess of 1” are possible.


U.S. Drought Monitor
Drought Intensity and Extent:
D3 (Extreme Drought): In northwest Ohio along US 24 and in parts of Allen, Adams, Miami, Wells, and Cass counties in Indiana
D2 (Severe Drought): Many Indiana and Ohio counties along and south of US 24
D1 (Moderate Drought): Southern Lower Michigan, northern Indiana north of US 24, and far northwest Ohio
D0 (Abnormally Dry): Mainly in far northwest Indiana

Precipitation
The past 7 to 30 days has remained very dry with precipitation well below normal
Rain, less than 0.10”, fell earlier this week along and north of US 30

Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
28-day streamflows, according to USGS data, are in the 10th to 25th percentile or less.
Little to no growth of turf grasses, river and stream levels are very low or have stopped flowing according to CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring reports.
CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring report of dry, powdery soil at a depth of 3’ near Delphos, OH

Agricultural Impacts
Moisture in soybean crops is between 8-11% and in corn is between 13-21%, per the State Climate Office of Ohio.

Fire Hazard Impacts
Burn bans are in effect for some Indiana Counties (Indiana Department of Homeland Security.)

Other Impacts
No known impacts at this time.


Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid October 16
Streamflows are reading less than 10% of normal (red)
Streamflows are reading 10-24% of normal (orange)

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

Beneficial rain is expected this weekend
Some areas could see as much as 2” of rain, but most locations will see about 1”; less in northwest Ohio
Additional rain is anticipated early-to-mid next week

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Drought conditions are anticipated to improve this fall, according to the Climate Prediction Center 
Precipitation departures:
Fort Wayne is 3.5” below normal since September 1 and is over 12” below normal for the year.
South Bend is about 3” below normal since September 1 and is about 6” below normal for the year.